Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How dogs spread Rickettsia parkeri and Rangelia vitalii
By Fournier, Gislene Fátima da Silva Rocha et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2020·Centro de Inovaç·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Implications of domestic dogs in the epidemiology of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and Rangelia vitalii in Southeastern Brazil.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Southeastern Brazil was monitored for tick-borne diseases over three years, revealing that dogs living closely with humans were at a significantly higher risk of infection from Rickettsia parkeri, a harmful bacteria. Those dogs that had ticks collected from them were found to be ten times more likely to carry this infection. One dog tested positive for another infection, Rangelia vitalii, and was frequently infested with ticks. The study emphasizes the importance of controlling tick exposure in pet dogs to help prevent the spread of these diseases to both pets and humans.
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Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of diseases transmitted by Amblyomma ovale in 61 dogs monitored for three years through collections of ticks and blood, interviews, telemetry and camera traps in three areas of Serra do Mar State Park, Brazil. Blood samples were used to investigate infection by Rangelia vitalii by real-time TaqMan PCR and Rickettsia parkeri by IIFA. The collected ticks were submitted to conventional PCR to investigate the presence of R. parkeri . These data were compared with the monitoring results and interviews with the owners. Dogs considered as companion presented a risk of infection by R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica 5.4 times higher than those not considered as companion (p = 0.009). Dogs that had at least one A. ovale collected during the campaigns had a 10 times higher risk of infection by R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica than those who did not (p = 0.009). One dog positive for R. vitalii by real-time TaqMan PCR was parasitized by A. ovale frequently during monitoring. Sequenced ompaA - positive DNA samples had 100% identity of R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica clone As106. From the findings, it is urgent to control domestic dogs around rainforests to reduce zoonoses transmission.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32236336/