Serological exposure of spotted fever group Rickettsia in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from urban parks in Campo Grande, Brazilian Midwest

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2022 Sep 19:55:e0192. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0192-2022. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background: Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG) has been reported in ticks and domestic animals in Campo Grande (CG), Midwest Brazil.

Methods: We searched for Rickettsia in the SFG in capybaras and their ticks in an urban park in the CG.

Results: The seropositivity rate was 88.2% (15/17). Although 87.7% of the capybaras sampled showed infestations with Amblyomma sculptum, A. dubitatum, and Amblyomma spp., no molecular results were detected in ticks.

Conclusions: Since Rickettsia from the SFG circulates among capybaras in the urban parks of Campo Grande, this large rodent species should be monitored within the One Health Agenda.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Ixodidae* / microbiology
  • Parks, Recreational
  • Rickettsia* / genetics
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever* / epidemiology
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever* / veterinary
  • Rodentia / microbiology
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis*
  • Ticks* / microbiology