Surveillance of Rickettsia sp. infection in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) a potential model of epidemiological alert in endemic areas
Keywords:
Rickettsia sp., rickettsiaceae infections, rodentia, ticks, fluorescent antibody technique, indirect, Colombia
Abstract
Introduction. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are considered amplifying hosts of Rickettsia sp. These rodents are usually parasitized by the tick vector, Amblyomma cajennense, the main vector of rickettsioses in humans and animals in South America. Capybaras can be used as sentinels in detection of circulation of rickettsiae.Objective. Antibodies to rickettsiae of spotted fever group were detected in capybaras in a rural area of Cordoba Province, northern Colombia.
Materials and methods. Sera were analyzed from 36 capybaras in a rural area of Monteria (village of San Jeronimo) in Córdoba. For the detection of IgG antibodies, indirect immunofluorescence was performed. The antigens were derived from R. rickettsia strain Taiaçu isolated in Brazil. Capybara sera were diluted 1:64 for IFA analysis. Ticks were collected from each capybara (also known as chigüiro) and identified to species.
Results. The seroprevalence of spotted fever group Rickettsia was 22% (8 capybaras). Four sera had a titer of 1:64, 3 had a titer of 1:128 and one serum had a titer of 1:512. All ticks removed from the capybaras (n=933) were taxonomically identified as Amblyomma cajennense.
Conclusion. Colombia has areas endemic for rickettsioses, as indicated by confirmed annual outbreaks. The current study reports the first evidence of natural rickettsial infection of the spotted fever group in capybaras from Colombia. The findings suggest that capybaras can be used as sentinels for the circulation of rickettsiae and can identify endemic areas for the transmission of rickettsial diseases.
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References
Referencias
1. Wölfel R, Essbauer S, Dobler G. Diagnostics of tick-borne rickettsioses in Germany: A modern concept for a neglected disease. Int J Med Microbiol. 2008;298:368-74.
2. Weinert LA, Werren JH, Aebi A, Stone GN, Jiggins FM. Evolution and diversity of Rickettsia bacteria. BMC Biol. 2009;7:6.
3. Gillespie JJ, Beier MS, Rahman MS, Ammerman NC, Shallom JM, Purkayastha A, et al. Plasmids and rickettsial evolution: Insight from Rickettsia felis. PLoS One. 2007;2:e266.
4. Labruna MB. Ecology of Rickettsia in South America. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009;1166:156-66.
5. Pacheco RC, Moraes-Filho J, Nava S, Brandão PE, Richtzenhain LJ, Labruna MB. Detection of a novel spotted fever group rickettsia in Amblyomma parvum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Argentina. Exp Appl Acarol. 2007;43:63-71.
6. Paddock CD, Fournier PE, Sumner JW, Goddard J, Elshenawy Y, Metcalfe MG, et al. Isolation of Rickettsia parkeri and identification of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia sp. from Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) in the United States. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010;76:2689-96.
7. Parola P, Raoult D. Tropical rickettsioses. Clin Dermatol. 2006;24:191-200.
8. Guedes E, Leite RC, Prata MC, Pacheco RC, Walker DH, Labruna MB. Detection of Rickettsia rickettsii in the tick Amblyomma cajennense in a new Brazilian spotted fever-endemic area in the state of Minas Gerais. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005;100:841-5.
9. Sangioni LA, Horta MC, Vianna MC, Gennari SM, Soares RM, Galvão MA. Rickettsial infection in animals and Brazilian spotted fever endemicity. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:265-70.
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11. Labruna MB, Ogrzewalska M, Martins TF, Pinter A, Horta MC. Comparative susceptibility of larval stages of Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus to infection by Rickettsia rickettsii. J Med Entomol. 2008;45:1156-9.
12. Souza CE, Moraes-Filho J, Ogrzewalska M, Uchoa FC, Horta MC, Souza SS, et al. Experimental infection of capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris by Rickettsia rickettsii and evaluation of the transmission of the infection to ticks Amblyomma cajennense. Vet Parasitol. 2009;161:116-21.
13. Ojasti J. Utilización de fauna silvestre en América Latina: situación y perspectivas para un manejo sostenible. Guía FAO de conservación 25. Fecha de consulta: 22 mayo de 2010. Disponible en: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/t0750s/t0750s00.html.
14. Pacheco RC, Horta MC, Moraes-Filho J, Ataliba AC, Pinter A, Labruna MB. Rickettsial infection in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from São Paulo, Brazil: Serological evidence for infection by Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia parkeri. Biomédica. 2007;27:364-71.
15. Onofrio V, Labruna M, Pinter A, Giacomin F, Barros-Battesti D. Comentarios e chaves para as espécies do genero Amblyomma. In: Barros-Battesti D, Arzua M, Bechara G. Carrapatos de importancia medico veterinaria da regiao neotropical. Um guía ilustrado para identificaçao de espécies. Sao Paulo: Butantan; 2006. p. 53-113.
16. Patiño L, Afanador A, Paul JH. A spotted fever in Tobia, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1937;17:639-53.
17. Miranda A, Florez S, Máttar S. Alta seroprevalencia de rickettsiosis en trabajadores del campo en el municipio de Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2001;7:71-5.
18. Hidalgo M, Orejuela L, Fuya P, Carrillo P, Hernández J, Parra E, et al. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colombia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:1058-60.
19. Acosta J, Urquijo L, Díaz A, Sepúlveda M, Mantilla G, Heredia D, et al. Brote de rickettsiosis en Necoclí, Antioquia, febrero -marzo de 2006. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2006;11:177-92.
20. Hidalgo M, Miranda J, Heredia D, Zambrano P, Vesga JF, Lizarazo D, et al. Outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Córdoba, Colombia. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2011;106:117-8.
21 Pacheco O, Giraldo M, Hidalgo M, Galeano A, Echeverri I, Echevarria L, et al. Estudio de brote febril hemorrágico en el corregimiento de Alto de Mulatos - Distrito Especial Portuario de Turbo, Antioquia, enero de 2008. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2008;13:145-60.
22. Horta MC, Labruna MB, Sangioni LA, Vianna MC, Gennari SM, Galvão MA, et al. Prevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae in humans and domestic animals in a Brazilian spotted fever-endemic area in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil: Serologic evidence for infection by Rickettsia rickettsii and another spotted fever group Rickettsia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2004;71:93-7.
23. Hidalgo M, Vesga JF, Lizarazo D, Valbuena G. A survey of antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii and Ehrlichia chafeensis in domestic animals from a rural area of Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009;80:1029-30.
24. Souza CE, Lacerra SS, Castor VL, Berger S, Gibrail M, Mouriz E, et al. Serological identification of Rickettsia spp. from the spotted fever group in capybaras in the region of Campinas - SP - Brazil. Ciencia Rural. 2008;38:1694-9.
25. La Scola B, Raoult D. Laboratory diagnosis of rickettsioses: Current approaches to diagnosis of old and new rickettsial diseases. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35:2715-27.
1. Wölfel R, Essbauer S, Dobler G. Diagnostics of tick-borne rickettsioses in Germany: A modern concept for a neglected disease. Int J Med Microbiol. 2008;298:368-74.
2. Weinert LA, Werren JH, Aebi A, Stone GN, Jiggins FM. Evolution and diversity of Rickettsia bacteria. BMC Biol. 2009;7:6.
3. Gillespie JJ, Beier MS, Rahman MS, Ammerman NC, Shallom JM, Purkayastha A, et al. Plasmids and rickettsial evolution: Insight from Rickettsia felis. PLoS One. 2007;2:e266.
4. Labruna MB. Ecology of Rickettsia in South America. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009;1166:156-66.
5. Pacheco RC, Moraes-Filho J, Nava S, Brandão PE, Richtzenhain LJ, Labruna MB. Detection of a novel spotted fever group rickettsia in Amblyomma parvum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Argentina. Exp Appl Acarol. 2007;43:63-71.
6. Paddock CD, Fournier PE, Sumner JW, Goddard J, Elshenawy Y, Metcalfe MG, et al. Isolation of Rickettsia parkeri and identification of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia sp. from Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) in the United States. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010;76:2689-96.
7. Parola P, Raoult D. Tropical rickettsioses. Clin Dermatol. 2006;24:191-200.
8. Guedes E, Leite RC, Prata MC, Pacheco RC, Walker DH, Labruna MB. Detection of Rickettsia rickettsii in the tick Amblyomma cajennense in a new Brazilian spotted fever-endemic area in the state of Minas Gerais. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005;100:841-5.
9. Sangioni LA, Horta MC, Vianna MC, Gennari SM, Soares RM, Galvão MA. Rickettsial infection in animals and Brazilian spotted fever endemicity. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:265-70.
10. Labruna MB, Whitworth T, Horta MC, Bouyer DH, McBride JW, Pinter A, et al. Rickettsia species infecting Amblyomma cooperi ticks from an area in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Brazilian spotted fever is endemic. J Clin Microbiol. 2004;42:90-8.
11. Labruna MB, Ogrzewalska M, Martins TF, Pinter A, Horta MC. Comparative susceptibility of larval stages of Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus to infection by Rickettsia rickettsii. J Med Entomol. 2008;45:1156-9.
12. Souza CE, Moraes-Filho J, Ogrzewalska M, Uchoa FC, Horta MC, Souza SS, et al. Experimental infection of capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris by Rickettsia rickettsii and evaluation of the transmission of the infection to ticks Amblyomma cajennense. Vet Parasitol. 2009;161:116-21.
13. Ojasti J. Utilización de fauna silvestre en América Latina: situación y perspectivas para un manejo sostenible. Guía FAO de conservación 25. Fecha de consulta: 22 mayo de 2010. Disponible en: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/t0750s/t0750s00.html.
14. Pacheco RC, Horta MC, Moraes-Filho J, Ataliba AC, Pinter A, Labruna MB. Rickettsial infection in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from São Paulo, Brazil: Serological evidence for infection by Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia parkeri. Biomédica. 2007;27:364-71.
15. Onofrio V, Labruna M, Pinter A, Giacomin F, Barros-Battesti D. Comentarios e chaves para as espécies do genero Amblyomma. In: Barros-Battesti D, Arzua M, Bechara G. Carrapatos de importancia medico veterinaria da regiao neotropical. Um guía ilustrado para identificaçao de espécies. Sao Paulo: Butantan; 2006. p. 53-113.
16. Patiño L, Afanador A, Paul JH. A spotted fever in Tobia, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1937;17:639-53.
17. Miranda A, Florez S, Máttar S. Alta seroprevalencia de rickettsiosis en trabajadores del campo en el municipio de Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2001;7:71-5.
18. Hidalgo M, Orejuela L, Fuya P, Carrillo P, Hernández J, Parra E, et al. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colombia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:1058-60.
19. Acosta J, Urquijo L, Díaz A, Sepúlveda M, Mantilla G, Heredia D, et al. Brote de rickettsiosis en Necoclí, Antioquia, febrero -marzo de 2006. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2006;11:177-92.
20. Hidalgo M, Miranda J, Heredia D, Zambrano P, Vesga JF, Lizarazo D, et al. Outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Córdoba, Colombia. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2011;106:117-8.
21 Pacheco O, Giraldo M, Hidalgo M, Galeano A, Echeverri I, Echevarria L, et al. Estudio de brote febril hemorrágico en el corregimiento de Alto de Mulatos - Distrito Especial Portuario de Turbo, Antioquia, enero de 2008. Inf Quinc Epidemiol Nac. 2008;13:145-60.
22. Horta MC, Labruna MB, Sangioni LA, Vianna MC, Gennari SM, Galvão MA, et al. Prevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae in humans and domestic animals in a Brazilian spotted fever-endemic area in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil: Serologic evidence for infection by Rickettsia rickettsii and another spotted fever group Rickettsia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2004;71:93-7.
23. Hidalgo M, Vesga JF, Lizarazo D, Valbuena G. A survey of antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii and Ehrlichia chafeensis in domestic animals from a rural area of Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009;80:1029-30.
24. Souza CE, Lacerra SS, Castor VL, Berger S, Gibrail M, Mouriz E, et al. Serological identification of Rickettsia spp. from the spotted fever group in capybaras in the region of Campinas - SP - Brazil. Ciencia Rural. 2008;38:1694-9.
25. La Scola B, Raoult D. Laboratory diagnosis of rickettsioses: Current approaches to diagnosis of old and new rickettsial diseases. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35:2715-27.
How to Cite
1.
Miranda J, Contreras V, Negrete Y, Labruna MB, Mattar S. Surveillance of Rickettsia sp. infection in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) a potential model of epidemiological alert in endemic areas. Biomed. [Internet]. 2011 Mar. 7 [cited 2025 Apr. 4];31(2):216-21. Available from: https://revistabiomedicaorg.biteca.online/index.php/biomedica/article/view/306
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