Rickettsioses in Latin America, Caribbean, Spain and Portugal

Abstract

Data on genus and infectious by Rickettsia were retrospectively compiled from the critical review literature regarding all countries in Latin America, Caribbean islands, Portugal and Spain. We considered all Rickettsia records reported for human and/or animal hosts, and/or invertebrate hosts considered being the vector. In a few cases, when no direct detection of a given Rickettsia group or species was available for a given country, the serologic method was considered. A total of 13 Rickettsia species have been recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean. The species with the largest number of country confirmed records were Rickettsia felis (9 countries), R. prowazekii (7 countries), R. typhi (6 countries), R. rickettsii (6 countries), R. amblyommii (5 countries), and R. parkeri (4 countries). The rickettsial records for the Caribbean islands (West Indies) were grouped in only one geographical area. Both R. bellii, R. akari, and Candidatus ‘R. andeane’ have been recorded in only 2 countries each, whereas R. massiliae, R. rhipicephali, R.monteiroi, and R. africae have each been recorded in a single country (in this case, R. africae has been recorded in nine Caribbean Islands). For El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, no specific Rickettsia has been reported so far, but there have been serological evidence of human or/and animal infection. The following countries remain without any rickettsial records: Belize, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, and Paraguay. In addition, except for a few islands, many Caribbean islands remain without records. A total of 12 Rickettsia species have been reported in Spain and Portugal: R. conorii, R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. felis, R. slovaca, R. raoultii, R. sibirica, R. aeschlimannii, R. rioja, R. massiliae, R. typhi, and R. prowazekii. Amongst these Rickettsia species reported in Spain and Portugal, only R. prowazekii, R. typhi, R. felis, and R. massiliae have also been reported in Latin America. This study summarizes the current state of art on the rickettsial distribution in Latin America, Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. The data obtained allow a better understanding on rickettsial epidemiology and distribution of vector ecology.Key words: Acari, epidemiology, rocky mountain spotted fever, vector control. (Source: DeCS)

Ticks infesting wild small rodents in three areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Tick-borne microorganisms include viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths (BARRoSBATTeSTI et al, 2006). In Brazil, bacteria of the genus Rickettsia are considered the most important tick-borne agents, which are spotted fever diseases in different regions of the country (LABRUNA et al, 2011). The species of ticks which infest domestic animals are the most studied; however, the species that parasitize wildlife are still poorly known, especially in relation to their taxonomy, biology, ecology, geographical distribution, usual host, and vector capacity of bioagents (BARRoSBATTeSTI et al, 2006).…”

Amblyomma parvum Aragão, 1908 (Acari: Ixodidae): Phylogeography and systematic considerations

“…Specimens of this tick have been found to be naturally infected with Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Candidatus 'Rickettsia andeanae' (Labruna et al, 2011;Pachecho et al, 2007;2013;Tomassone et al, 2008). Aragão described A. parvum in 1908(Aragão, 1908 and further illustrated it in 1911 (Aragão, 1911).…”

A fatal case of Brazilian spotted fever in a non-endemic area in Brazil: the importance of having health professionals who understand the disease and its areas of transmission

“…The case-fatality rate has been found to range from 30% to 50% (5) . Although infections caused by unknown spotted fever group agents of the genus Rickettsia have been reported in the Southern states of Brazil (1) , there have been no confirmed cases or fatalities due to R. rickettsii. This report presents the first record of a human death caused by R. rickettsii in the Brazilian State of Paraná, located in the southern region of the country.…”

“…Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a rickettsial illness caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii (1) . It is transmitted to humans by ticks, most commonly by the species Amblyomma sculptum (formerly Amblyomma cajennense), which is considered to be the main vector of the disease in Brazil (2) .…”