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Serosurvey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs and humans from an endemic area for Brazilian spotted fever in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Serosurvey of Rickettsia spp. in dogs and humans from an endemic area for Brazilian spotted fever in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Authors :
Pinter A
Horta MC
Pacheco RC
Moraes-Filho J
Labruna MB
Source :
Cadernos de saude publica [Cad Saude Publica] 2008 Feb; Vol. 24 (2), pp. 247-52.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

The present study provides a rickettsial serosurvey in 25 dogs and 35 humans in an endemic area for Brazilian spotted fever in the State of São Paulo, where the tick Amblyomma aureolatum is the main vector. Testing canine and human sera by indirect immunofluorescence against four Rickettsia antigens (R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. felis and R. bellii) showed that 16 (64%) of canine sera and 1 (2.8%) of human sera reacted to at least one of these rickettsial antigens with titers >0r= 64. Seven canine sera and the single reactive human serum showed titers to R. rickettsii at least four times those of any of the other three antigens. The antibody titers in these 7 animals and 1 human were attributed to stimulation by R. rickettsii infection. No positive canine or human serum was attributed to stimulation by R. parkeri, R. felis, or R. bellii. Our serological results showed that dogs are important sentinels for the presence of R. rickettsii in areas where the tick A. aureolatum is the main vector of Brazilian spotted fever.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0102-311X
Volume :
24
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Cadernos de saude publica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
18278271
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2008000200003