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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Rickettsia infection in five areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

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Author(s):
Maurício C Horta [1] ; Marcelo B Labruna [2] ; Adriano Pinter [3] ; Pedro M Linardi [4] ; Teresinha T S Schumaker [5]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal - Brasil
[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal - Brasil
[3] Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - Brasil
[4] Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Parasitologia - Brasil
[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Parasitologia - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; v. 102, n. 7, p. 793-801, 2007-11-00.
Abstract

This study investigated rickettsial infection in animals, humans, ticks, and fleas collected in five areas of the state of São Paulo. Eight flea species (Adoratopsylla antiquorum antiquorum, Ctenocephalides felis felis, Polygenis atopus, Polygenis rimatus, Polygenis roberti roberti, Polygenis tripus, Rhopalopsyllus lugubris, and Rhopalopsyllus lutzi lutzi), and five tick species (Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma dubitatum, Ixodes loricatus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) were collected from dogs, cats, and opossums. Rickettsia felis was the only rickettsia found infecting fleas, whereas Rickettsia bellii was the only agent infecting ticks, but no animal or human blood was shown to contain rickettsial DNA. Testing animal and human sera by indirect immunofluorescence assay against four rickettsia antigens (R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. felis, and R. bellii), some opossum, dog, horse, and human sera reacted to R. rickettsii with titers at least four-fold higher than to the other three rickettsial antigens. These sera were considered to have a predominant antibody response to R. rickettsii. Using the same criteria, opossum, dog, and horse sera showed predominant antibody response to R. parkeri or a very closely related genotype. Our serological results suggest that both R. rickettsii and R. parkeri infected animals and/or humans in the studied areas. (AU)