Abstract
Rickettsia spp. bacteria are responsible for tick-borne diseases worldwide, mostly maintained by rickettsial amplifiers capybaras in Brazilian endemic areas. The campus of the University of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, is an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), with high density of capybaras and Amblyomma spp., along with confirmed human cases. Besides capybaras, the university has also an in-campus high population of sheltered and free-roaming cats. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics associated with Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia felis exposure among cats in a BSF-endemic area. Out of 51 cats sampled, 23/35 shelter (65.7%) and 5/16 free-roaming (31.2%) were positive (titers ≥ 64) for at least one Rickettsia species. Ticks species were present in 3/16 free-roaming cats (18.8%), consisting of Amblyomma spp., nymphs of Amblyomma sculptum and adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Despite sharing the capybaras environment, the seropositivity among the free-roaming and shelter cats was lower than owned cats in other endemic areas. Whether equally or less exposed to rickettsial infection, compared with owned cats in endemic areas, free-roaming and shelter cats may be used as environmental sentinels for human exposure to rickettsiae in such areas.
Highlights
Rickettsia bacteria are responsible for human and animal diseases worldwide, such as Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) and ixodid ticks are the main vectors of rickettsiae (BENINATI et al, 2005; LABRUNA, 2009)
3/51 (5.8%) sheltered cats were seropositive for R. felis with titer of 64; these three cats were seropositive for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri (Table 1)
No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding the frequencies of occurrence of R. rickettsii and R. parkeri
Summary
Rickettsia bacteria are responsible for human and animal diseases worldwide, such as Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) and ixodid ticks are the main vectors of rickettsiae (BENINATI et al, 2005; LABRUNA, 2009). Presence of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) has been reportedly correlated with endemic areas for BSF in southeastern Brazil, with capybara population 40 times higher when compared to natural environments, mostly related to extensive sugarcane crops (POLO et al, 2015). Despite the urban location of the campus of the University of São Paulo in the city of Piracicaba, it is composed of extensive green areas, with native vegetation and natural river courses. This type of terrain has historically been described as capybaras’ natural habitat. High seropositive capybara population has overlapped around 250 free‐roaming in-campus cats, according to campus administration
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