Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ticks found near dogs in Porto Velho may carry spotted fever bacteria
By da Costa, Ivaneide Nunes et al.·Published in Experimental & applied acarology·2021·Laborató, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diversity of free-living ticks and serological evidence of spotted fever group Rickettsia and ticks associated to dogs, Porto Velho, Western Amazon, Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in Brazil found that some dogs in Porto Velho tested positive for antibodies related to Rickettsia, which can cause Brazilian Spotted Fever. Researchers collected ticks from dogs and the environment, identifying several tick species, but did not find the bacteria in the ticks themselves. About 20% of dogs in urban areas and 15% in rural areas showed signs of exposure to Rickettsia. This is the first report of Rickettsia infection in dogs from this region, highlighting the potential risk for pets living in areas with these ticks.
People also search for: dog ticks Rickettsia Brazil · Brazilian Spotted Fever in dogs · dog tick prevention Porto Velho
Abstract
Rondônia is the only state in the North Region of Brazil to have registered confirmed cases of Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF). The present study investigated the epidemiological cycle of Rickettsia spp. by surveying free-living ixodofauna and tick parasitism of dogs in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia State. Ticks and dogs were tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA and dog serum was tested for reactivity to anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies. Tick collection and dog blood sampling were performed in peri-urban and rural environments at 11 locations. Eight free-living Amblyomma species and one Haemaphysalis species were collected: A. scalpturatum, A. naponense, A. oblongoguttatum, A. coelebs, A. latepunctatum, A. pacae, A. ovale, Amblyomma sp., and H. juxtakochi. Three tick species were found parasitizing dogs: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, A. oblongoguttatum and A. ovale. Molecular analysis did not identify the presence of the gltA gene fragment in any tick specimen. Results from an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) showed that 20.8% of peri-urban and 15.4% of rural dog sera exhibited reactivity to Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia parkeri antigens. Antibody prevalence in dogs was 16.4%. This study is the first to describe the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection in dogs from Porto Velho municipality. Our findings enhance current knowledge of Rickettsia spp. circulation in the Western Amazon.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33779896/