Spotted fever group Rickettsia in small rodents from areas of low endemicity for Brazilian spotted fever in the Eastern Region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Bruno S. Milagres, Amanda F. Padilha, Carlos E. Montandon, Renata N. Freitas, Richard Pacheco, David H. Walker, Marcelo B. Labruna, Cláudio L. Mafra, Márcio A.M. Galvão

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigated the humoral immune response against different species of Rickettsia in serum samples from small rodents collected in two areas of a silent focus for Brazilian spotted fever in the eastern region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Sera samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay using antigens from Rickettsia species of the spotted fever, ancestral, and transition groups. Titers ≥ 1:64 were considered positive. In Santa Cruz do Escalvado, 94% (30 of 32) of the samples collected from Rattus rattus, 22% (5 of 23) from Nectomys squamipes, and 80% (4 of 5) from Akodon sp., reacted by indirect immunofluorescence assay with Rickettsia antigens of the spotted fever group. In the municipality of Pingo D'Água, 84% (26 of 31) of the samples collected from R. rattus, 86% (6 of 7) of the samples from Oryzomys subflavus, 86% (6 of 7) from N. squamipes, and 100% (1 of 1) from Bolomys sp. contained antibodies that reacted with rickettsial antigens of the spotted fever group. These results demonstrated the previous exposure of small rodents to spotted fever group Rickettsia, suggesting the participation of these animals in the natural history of these rickettsiae in this region.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)937-939
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume88
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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