Brazilian Spotted Fever Prevention through a Nonlethal Capybara Population Control Strategy.

Abstract

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal tick-borne Rickettsioses (2000 - 2018 >600 human deaths) involving synanthropic capybara as host. We introduced an alternative to mitigate human-capybara conflicts and epidemiologic concerns of BSF. Complex aspects like transmission dynamics, risk areas, host mobility, and birth rate control, were considered to develop a prevention strategy using an anti-GnRH vaccine. The propositioned immunocontraceptive potentially remove and prevent the spread of BSF from endemic areas. We propose the anti-GnRH vaccine as a BSF prevention strategy based on these favorable results.