A survey for rickettsial agents on Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodida, Ixodidae) ticks in Northeastern Brazil

Authors

  • Atticus Tanikawa Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Unidade Acadêmica de Medicina Veterinária, Patos, PB
  • Francisco Borges Costa Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, São Paulo, SP
  • Maecelo Bahia Labruna Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, São Paulo, SP
  • Sérgio Santos de Azevedo Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Unidade Acadêmica de Medicina Veterinária, Patos, PB

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2318-3659.v50i5p414-417

Keywords:

Rickettsiosis, Paraíba State, Brazil

Abstract

In this study, rickettsial infection was searched in 108 canine blood samples and 22 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodida,Ixodidae) ticks collected on these dogs during 2011 and 2012 in Patos municipality, state of Paraíba, northeasternBrazil. Blood samples were tested through indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) by using antigens of six Rickettsiaspecies isolates from Brazil. All 108 dogs tested seronegative for R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. felis, R.rhipicephali, and R. bellii antigens, suggesting a non-endemic status of the studied region for spotted fever ricketsiosis.Among 22 R. sanguineus ticks, R. felis was detected in one (4.5%) specimen by PCR targeting a portion of the rickettsialgltA gene. The possible implications of this unusual PCR finding are discussed.

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Published

2013-10-29

Issue

Section

SHORT COMMUNICATION

How to Cite

A survey for rickettsial agents on Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodida, Ixodidae) ticks in Northeastern Brazil. (2013). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 50(5), 414-417. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2318-3659.v50i5p414-417