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Phylogenetic tree of Borrelia spp. (GenBank: 231013). Evolutionary history was based on the Bayesian inference tree with probability scores for the flgE gene. The scale bar indicates 0.03 changes per nucleotide position. The sample sequences obtained in this study are shown in blue. (Color figure online)
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More than 70 tick species are found in Brazil, distributed over five genera and including main vectors of infectious disease agents affecting both animals and humans. The genus Amblyomma is the most relevant for public health in Brazil, wherein Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma ovale and Amblyomma sculptum have been incriminated as vectors of Rickett...
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Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These infections are among the oldest known diseases transmitted by vectors. In the last three decades there has been a rapid increase in the recognition of this disease complex. This unusual expansion of information...
Background
Scalp Eschar and Neck LymphAdenopathy after Tick bite is a zoonotic non-pathogen-specific disease most commonly due to Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii. Diagnosis is mostly based only on epidemiological and clinical findings, without serological or molecular corroboration.
We presented a clinical case in which diagnosis was sup...
Japanese spotted fever, a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia japonica, was firstly described in southwestern Japan. There was a suspicion of Rickettsia japonica infected ticks reaching the non-endemic Niigata Prefecture after a confirmed case of Japanese spotted fever in July 2014. Therefore, from 2015 to 2017, 38 sites were surveyed and ricke...
Citations
... Reports have shown most cases in the southern and southeastern regions [12,13]. However, several studies have found ticks, capybaras, and other animals infected with Rickettsia in the central-western region [14,15]. In Brasília, one confirmed case of BSF was reported [11], and a study of ticks associated with capybaras on the shore of the Lake Paranoá found A. dubitatum Neumann 1899 infected with Rickettsia parkeri-like agent [15]. ...
Amblyomma ticks are vectors of both Rickettsia rickettsii and R. parkeri in the Americas, where capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the main hosts in urban areas, thus contributing to the transmission of spotted fever. Herein, we studied: (i) the seasonal dynamics and abundance of ticks in areas where capybaras live, (ii) the effect of environmental variables on tick abundance, and (iii) the presence of Rickettsia-infected ticks. Between September 2021 and September 2022, we sampled ticks using cloth-dragging at 194 sites on the shore of Lake Paranoá in Brasília, Brazil. We measured environmental data (season, vegetation type, canopy density, temperature, humidity, and presence or vestige of capybara) at each site. Nymphs and adults were morphologically identified to the species level, and a selected tick sample including larvae was subjected to genotypic identification. We investigated Rickettsia-infected ticks by PCR (gltA, htrA, ompB, and ompA genes) and associations between tick abundance and environmental variables using Generalized Linear Models. A total of 30,334 ticks (96% larvae) were captured. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma, with A. sculptum comprising 97% of the adult/nymphs. Genotype identification of a larval sample confirmed that 95% belonged to A. dubitatum. Seasonal variables showed significant effects on tick abundance. Most larvae and nymphs were captured during the early dry season, while the adults were more abundant during the wet season. Vegetation variables and the presence of capybaras showed no association with tick abundance. Rickettsia parkeri group and R. bellii were identified in A. dubitatum, while A. sculptum presented R. bellii. We conclude that: (i) Amblyomma ticks are widely distributed in Lake Paranoá throughout the year, especially larvae at the dry season, (ii) the abundance of Amblyomma ticks is explained more by climatic factors than by vegetation or presence of capybaras, and (iii) A. dubitatum ticks are potential vectors of R. parkeri in Brasília.
... In Brazil, molecular evidence for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. was found in A. sculptum (Higa et al., 2020) and Rickettsia spp. in R. sanguineus (Cunha et al., 2009;Silva et al., 2017). ...
Dogs are important in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, playing a significant role mainly in endemic areas of rickettsiosis and borreliosis, and serving as sentinels in epidemiological surveys. We analyzed the distribution of Rickettsia and Borrelia spp. in dogs and their ticks in the municipalities of Guaxupé, Minas Gerais, and Tapiratiba, São Paulo, Brazil, two areas non-endemic for Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) and rickettsiosis. Serum from 242 dogs of different ages (>12 months) and breeds were tested by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) using specific antigens for Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia rhipicephali, and Rickettsia bellii, and by an indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of homologous IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi American strain G39/40. Ticks were collected from the animals and subjected to PCR and nested PCR for detection of Rickettsia spp. (synthase citrate gene) and Borrelia spp. (flagellin gene). Serological data showed that 7.85% (19/242) of the analyzed dogs were seropositive for at least one of the five Rickettsia antigens tested; one (0.41%) was considered seropositive for R. parkeri (1:64) and one (0.41%) for R. rickettsii (1:256). Nine (3.72%) were considered seropositive for R. bellii and one (0.41%) for R. amblyommatis; a seroprevalence of 13.64% (33/242) for IgG class immunoreactive antibodies against B. burgdorferi was observed. A total of 148 ticks were collected from the dogs; among these 3.40% were identified as larvae of the genus Rhipicephalus and 0.70% of the genus Amblyomma; 89.8% were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 4.70% Amblyomma sculptum and 1.40% Amblyomma ovale; all negative for PCR of Rickettsia spp. and nested PCR for Borrelia spp.. The serological findings of this study suggest the circulation of Rickettsiae associated with the spotted fever group and vector ticks, just like Borrelia spp. in a non-endemic Brazilian area, drawing attention to the possibility of a zoonotic cycle in the region.
... Among these genera, Amblyomma is considered one of the most important due to its great representativeness based on the number of species and their impact on human health (Onofrio et al., 2006). Some tick species of this genus are well known to parasitize humans Guglielmone et al., 2006) and are known vectors of pathogens such as viruses, protozoa and bacteria that affect mammals (Higa et al., 2020;Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004;Parola et al., 2013;Szabó et al., 2013aSzabó et al., , 2013b. The pathogens transmitted by ticks in Brazil include Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG). ...
... In Brazil, R. parkeri s.s. was detected in ticks such as A. tigrinum and Amblyomma aureolatum from the Pampa region (Dall'Agnoll et al., 2018;Weck et al., 2020) and in A. triste from Cerrado and Pantanal biome Melo et al., 2015;Nieri-Bastos et al., 2013). Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, another agent classified as a human pathogen, has been associated mainly with the Amblyomma ovale tick, with DNA detection in different states in the southern to midwestern region and the northeastern regions of Brazil, and it has also been detected in A. aureolatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Moerbeck et al., 2016;Sevá et al., 2019); Higa et al., 2020). ...
... Among the tick species reported in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, several have already been reported to harbor Rickettsia; for example, R. rickettsii in R. sanguineus s.l. (Almeida et al., 2012), Rickettsia spp. in Amblyomma nodosum , Rickettsia parkeri-like in Amblyomma calcaratum (Ogrzewalska et al., 2013), SFG Rickettsia in Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma sculptum (Higa et al., 2020;Matias et al., 2015), Rickettsia parkeri strain NOD in A. nodosum , 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae' in Amblyomma parvum , R. parkeri s.s. in A. triste (Nieri-Bastos et al., 2013), and others. These studies in Mato Grosso do Sul state were carried out in several localities, from urban areas to areas with a low human impact, such as the Brazilian Pantanal, showing a richness of Rickettsia associated with different tick species. ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate tick fauna and identify the possible presence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks of the genus Amblyomma from two environmental preservation areas in different regions of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. CO2 traps, visual observation and cloth dragging were used to capture ticks. Three hundred ticks were submitted to the hemolymph test, and samples that showed organisms morphologically compatible with Rickettsia were used for rickettsial DNA detection by PCR. DNA was extracted using guanidine-phenol isothiocyanate, and the primers CS78 and CS323 were used for PCR, which amplified a 401-base pair fragment of the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. If positive, the DNA sample was tested by primers Rr190.70p and Rr190.602n that produce a 530 bp amplicon of the ompA gene that is present only in rickettsiae of the spotted fever group. A total of 1,745 adult ticks were collected, including 1,673 specimens of Amblyomma sculptum, 63 of Amblyomma coelebs, five of Amblyomma naponense and four of Amblyomma ovale. Thirteen ticks of the species A. ovale, A. coelebs and A. sculptum showed structures compatible with Rickettsia inside the hemocytes; after DNA extraction, the presence of Rickettsia spp. in a sample of A. ovale was confirmed by PCR in both analyzed fragments. In the sequencing analysis, 100% identity for the Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest was obtained according to GenBank. The two environmental preservation areas showed A. sculptum as the predominant species, as well as the presence of marked seasonality for this species. This paper is the first report of the R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in A. ovale ticks in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
... The complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) comprises a group with a large number of spirochetes that cause diseases as Lyme Disease (LD), mainly in the USA and Europe. In Brazil, there is a suspicious that the BYS is regarded to the Borrelia species, and its occurrence was described both in humans and animals through serological and molecular techniques [7][8][9] . ...
... Nevertheless, vectors of BYS are not well-described yet. Considering that, it is suggested that the wild cycle can occur among species from the Ixodes genus 11 , while the domestic cycle occurs by ticks from Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus genus 1,9 . ...
... In Brazil, R. parkeri was found out in tick species from Amblyomma genus 30 such as A. tigrinum, A. triste, and A. ovale 31,32 , and most recently in the A. sculptum 9,33 . 25 , which suggests this tick species as potential vector of Spotted Fever caused by this bacteria. ...
Spotted Fever Group (SFGR) and Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) are described as important tick-borne zoonosis. Horses do not participate directly in the cycle of these diseases, but they work as sentinels of epidemiological studies. We analyzed the distribution of Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. in horses and ticks of two non-endemic areas from Southeastern Brazil. Blood serum from 102 horses of different ages (> 12 months) and breeds were analyzed by the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFR) with the aid of specific antigens for R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. rhipicephali, R. amblyommatis and R. bellii, besides the indirect immunoadsorption assay (ELISA) aiming to detect homologous IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi (American strain G39/40). Free-living and parasitic ticks were collected for PCR and Nested-PCR tests to detect both Rickettsia spp. (citrate synthase gene) and Borrelia spp. (flagellin gene). The data showed 51.96% (53/102) of seropositive horses at least in one of the five tested Rickettsia antigens, and 10.78% (11/102) were considered serum-specific for R. parkeri. Besides that, a total seroprevalence of 13.73% (14/102) for immunoreactive antibodies of the IgG class against B. burgdorferi were obtained from the indirect ELISA. Three hundred and fifty-three ticks were collected, all identified as Amblyomma sculptum and negative for PCR and Nested-PCR. The obtained results suggest the circulation of SFGR and Borrelia spp. in a non-endemic area of Brazil, added to a large occurrence of vector ticks. This scenario deserves attention for the possibility of a zoonotic cycle in the region.
We report the presence of multiple brown dog ticks (Rhicephalus linnaei) from the Indian vulture Gyps indicus. This paper constitutes the first report of this tick species from the vulture, and also the first documentation of ectoparasites from vultures in Malaysia. Additionally, we have conducted a literature review on ticks from vultures worldwide, resulting in 21 tick species consisted of six genera (Argas, Ornithodoros, Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus) recorded from eight Old World vultures and two New World vultures. The lists of ticks infesting both vulture groups, along with pathogens detected from some of these ticks, are provided in this paper.
In Brazil, two tick species are mainly involved in public health and livestock issues: Amblyomma sculptum and Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively. Nootkatone, a sesquiterpenoid isolated from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, has been described in the literature as an environmentally friendly alternative method of control, with repellent and toxic action against different insect and tick species from the Northern Hemisphere. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nootkatone on the in vitro mortality of R. microplus and A. sculptum. Different dilutions of nootkatone (0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10%) were used on instars of both tick species. In A. sculptum engorged larvae, unfed nymphs, and unfed adults, 2% nootkatone resulted in 95% mortality in almost all tests. An in vitro mortality rate of 95% was observed for larvae and engorged females of R. microplus with 1% and 0.5% nootkatone, respectively. Additionally, 5% and 10% nootkatone were at least 97% effective against engorged larvae, unfed nymphs, and unfed adults of A. sculptum and larvae and engorged females of R. microplus. This was the first study to use nootkatone against ticks from Brazil and the data suggest that nootkatone has great potential as a tool for tick control.
Background
Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG) has been reported in ticks and domestic animals in Campo Grande (CG), Midwest Brazil.
Methods
We searched for Rickettsia in the SFG in capybaras and their ticks in an urban park in the CG.
Results
The seropositivity rate was 88.2% (15/17). Although 87.7% of the capybaras sampled showed infestations with Amblyomma sculptum, A. dubitatum, and Amblyomma spp., no molecular results were detected in ticks.
Conclusions
Since Rickettsia from the SFG circulates among capybaras in the urban parks of Campo Grande, this large rodent species should be monitored within the One Health Agenda.
Keywords:
Capybaras; Rickettsia spp.; Urban parks; One health; Brazilian mildest
There is a lack of studies regarding tick-associated Rickettsia in the Amazon biome. Aiming to contribute to this knowledge, our research group collected ticks in the Western Amazon to better understand the tick fauna and their associated Rickettsia. In this study, we detected Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest DNA in the tick Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844 in Rio Branco municipality, Acre state, northern Brazil. This is the first time that the R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest has been reported in the Amazon biome and is the first evidence of the circulation of a pathogenic spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia in this biome. This finding provides substantial information to help public health authorities understand which species of Rickettsia may be related to Amazon spotted fever cases.
Due to the degradation and loss of its natural habitat, the presence of capybaras in urban environments and crop areas has been frequently reported in various regions of Brazil. The objective of this study was to identify the parasitic fauna of free-living capybaras in two impacted biomes of the northeastern region (Atlantic Forest and Caatinga), as well as to evaluate the impact of parasitism on the health of these rodents. For this, ticks, fecal and blood samples (for hematology and serum biochemistry evaluation) were collected from 23 free-ranging capybaras from four areas of Atlantic Forest (areas 1, 2 and 3) and Caatinga (area 4) biomes. Of the 23 animals with parasites, 73.9% (17/23) were parasitized simultaneously by gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) (Strongylida, Strongyloides chapini, Capillaria sp., Trematoda and Eimeria sp.) and Amblyomma ticks (larvae of Amblyomma sp. - areas 1, 2, and 3; Amblyomma dubitatum - areas 1 and 2; A. sculptum - areas 3 and 4), while 26.1% (6/23) were parasitized exclusively by ticks. The trematode Hippocrepis hippocrepis was collected during the necropsy of one animal that died during the study. Most hematological and serum biochemical parameters were within the reference values for the species, except AST, albumin, urea, and Na, which presented higher values. Some parameters presented statistically significant differences associated with parasitism, with higher values for animals with co-infection (GIP and ticks) than animals parasitized by ticks only: leukocyte counts (p = 0.0332), neutrophils (p = 0.0498), monocytes (p = 0.0443), as well as creatinine (p = 0.0422) and lactate (p = 0.0307). This may mean that the GIP identified in this study can have a greater impact on the hematological and serum biochemical parameters. However, although parasitized and living in threatened biomes, the animals were healthy, demonstrating that they could be adapted to parasitism. Amblyomma sculptum was recorded for the first time in capybaras in the Caatinga biome in Pernambuco state. The presence of A. sculptum evidences the need for studies about the infection by Rickettsia on capybaras and their ticks, to provide data on the potential risk of occurrence of Brazilian Spotted Fever in Pernambuco state, within a One Health perspective.
