Investigation of the presence of Rickettsia spp. in chigger mites (Acari: Trombidiformes) from São Paulo state

• Grant number: 22/02793-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius
• Grantee: Júlia Carvalho Takatsu
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chiggers are the popular name for the larval stage of mites of the family Trombiculidae s. l., these mites parasitize vertebrates and can cause a skin reaction in their host, known as trombiculiasis. In Brazil, 69 species are known, and in many of them, there is only a single record of location and host. In the Asia-Pacific region, some species of this family are vectors of tsutsugamushi, a human rickettsiosis caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. In addition to this bacterium, some pathogens (Borrelia, Coxiella, Hepatozoon, and Rickettsia) have already been detected in trombiculid mites. For Brazil, Rickettsia felis-like was detected in Blankaartia sinnamaryi collected parasitizing birds, and Rickettsia spp. were found in three different species of trombiculids collected parasitizing rodents in the state of São Paulo. For the current project, specimens already preserved in a tissue bank will be examined, subjected to DNA extraction, and then to the Rickettsia spp. In the Neotropical region, trombiculids are poorly studied, and there are still gaps in their taxonomy, biodiversity, and host association. Considering the lack of knowledge on the distribution of the species that occur in this country and indications of the possibility of the larvae participating in the transmission of pathogens, the investigative analysis of this pathogen in this group of mites collected in the state of São Paulo becomes relevant.(AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

JACINAVICIUS, FERNANDO DE; PEREIRA PESENATO, ISABELLA; TAKATSU, JULIA CARVALHO; COUSANDIER, GABRIELA; OCHOA, RONALD; WELBOURN, CAL; BARROS-BATTESTI, DARCI MORAES. Three chigger species (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) co-parasitizing a domestic cat in Brazil, including pathogen monitoring. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY, v. 49, n. 2, p. 8-pg., 2023-03-29. (19/19853-0, 22/02793-7)