Abstract

BackgroundRickettsia bacteria are responsible for diseases in humans and animals around the world, however few details are available regarding its ecology and circulation among wild animals and human populations at high transmission risk in Brazil. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ticks and Rickettsia spp. in wild boars, corresponding hunting dogs and hunters.MethodsSerum samples and ticks were collected from 80 free-range wild boars, 170 hunting dogs and 34 hunters from southern and central-western Brazil, from the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, respectively, between 2016 and 2018. Serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) to detect IgG antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia amblyommatis. Tick species were identified by morphological taxonomic keys, as previously described. A total of 164 ticks including A. sculptum, A. brasiliense and A. aureolatum were tested in PCR assays for Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia spp.ResultsA total of 58/80 (72.5%) wild boars, 24/170 (14.1%) hunting dogs and 5/34 (14.7%) hunters were positive (titers ≥ 64) to at least one Rickettsia species. A total of 669/1,584 (42.2%) ticks from wild boars were identified as Amblyomma sculptum, 910/1,584 (57.4%) as Amblyomma brasiliense, 4/1,584(0.24%) larvae of Amblyomma spp. and 1/1,584 (0.06%) nymph as Amblyolmma dubitatum. All 9 ticks found on hunting dogs were identified as Amblyomma aureolatum and all 22 ticks on hunters as A. sculptum. No tested tick was positive by standard PCR to SFG Rickettsia spp.ConclusionsThe present study was the concomitant report of wild boar, hunting dog and hunter exposure to SFG rickettsiae agents, performed in two different Brazilian biomes. Wild boar hunting may increase the risk of human exposure and consequently tick-borne disease Wild boars may be carrying and spreading capybara ticks from their original habitats to other ecosystems. Further studies can be required to explore the ability of wild boars to infecting ticks and be part of transmission cycle of Rickettsia spp.

Highlights

  • The present study was the concomitant report of wild boar, hunting dog and hunter exposure to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae agents, performed in two different Brazilian biomes

  • Wild boar hunting may increase the risk of human exposure and tick-borne disease Wild boars may be carrying and spreading capybara ticks from their original habitats to other ecosystems

  • Further studies can be required to explore the ability of wild boars to infecting ticks and be part of transmission cycle of Rickettsia spp

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Summary

Introduction

The genus Rickettsia (family Rickettsiaceae; order Rickettsiales) comprises gram-negative and obligate intracellular bacteria, which are phylogenetically classified into the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, the typhus group rickettsiae, the Rickettsia bellii group rickettsiae and the Rickettsia canadensis group rickettsiae [1]. Rickettsia rickettsii, the main etiological agent of spotted fever in Brazil, has been primarily transmitted to human beings by Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma aureolatum ticks [6, 7, 8]. Rickettsia spp. in wild boars, dogs and hunters parasitism, may be the most prevalent tick species in the Cerrado and degraded areas of the Atlantic Rainforest biomes [9, 10]. Rickettsia bacteria are responsible for diseases in humans and animals around the world, few details are available regarding its ecology and circulation among wild animals and human populations at high transmission risk in Brazil. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ticks and Rickettsia spp. in wild boars, corresponding hunting dogs and hunters

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