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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060
EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 102, No. 7, 2007, pp. 793-801
Bioline Code: oc07145
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 102, No. 7, 2007, pp. 793-801

 en Rickettsia infection in five areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil
Horta, Maurício C; Labruna, Marcelo B; Pinter, Adriano; Linardi, Pedro M; Medeiros, Daniela & Schumaker, Teresinha T S

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 check for this species in other resources , Ctenocephalides felis felis check for this species in other resources , Polygenis atopus check for this species in other resources , Polygenis rimatus check for this species in other resources , Polygenis roberti roberti check for this species in other resources , Polygenis tripus check for this species in other resources , Rhopalopsyllus lugubris check for this species in other resources , and Rhopalopsyllus lutzi lutzi check for this species in other resources ), and five tick species ( Amblyomma aureolatum check for this species in other resources , Amblyomma cajennense check for this species in other resources , Amblyomma dubitatum check for this species in other resources , Ixodes loricatus check for this species in other resources , and Rhipicephalus sanguineus check for this species in other resources ) were collected from dogs, cats, and opossums. Rickettsia felis check for this species in other resources was the only rickettsia found infecting fleas, whereas Rickettsia bellii check for this species in other resources 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.

Keywords
Rickettsia - spotted fever - fleas - ticks - opossum - domestic animals

 
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