Abstract
Background and Aim:Wild boars have recently been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks, which are essential for Rickettsia spp. transmission. Consequently, wild boar hunting may increase the risk of tick exposure and subsequent human tick-borne infection and disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for ticks and Rickettsia spp. exposure in wild boars, hunting dogs, and hunters in Brazilian biomes.Materials and Methods:The statistical relationship of Rickettsia spp. antibodies were evaluated using the Chi-square test in 80 wild boars, 170 hunting dogs, and 49 hunters.Results:The only statistically significant difference in seropositivity found in this study was between male and female wild boars (p=0.034), probably associated with in-park exposure to Amblyomma brasiliense infected with Rickettsia spp.Conclusion:The absence of statistical differences in the associated risk factors for hunting dogs and hunters may indicate a random exposure to Rickettsia spp.
Highlights
Wild boars have been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks in Brazil, which are essential for the transmission of Rickettsia spp., Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) [1]
Wild boar exposure to Rickettsia spp. was statistically significant in terms of sex, with females being more likely to be positive (p=0.034); this was not associated with other risk factors, including age, area of capture, and between free-range and captured wild boars (Table-1)
The number of Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma dubitatum, and larvae of Amblyomma spp. ticks infesting wild boars showed no statistical differences for Rickettsia spp. seropositivity when compared between Atlantic Forest with Cerrado biomes and with degraded areas of Atlantic Forest
Summary
Wild boars have been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks in Brazil, which are essential for the transmission of Rickettsia spp., Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) [1]. Spotted fever has been considered as the most fatal tick-borne disease worldwide, and wild boars may spread infected ticks with Rickettsia spp. from their original habitats to other ecosystems, causing human exposure, in specific human. Wild boars have recently been implicated as the maintainers and carriers of Amblyomma spp. ticks, which are essential for Rickettsia spp. transmission. Wild boar hunting may increase the risk of tick exposure and subsequent human tick-borne infection and disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for ticks and Rickettsia spp. exposure in wild boars, hunting dogs, and hunters in Brazilian biomes
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