Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Feb 2019)

Circulation of spotted fever group rickettsiae among dogs seropositive for Leishmania spp. in an urban area of Brazil

  • Sabrina Destri Emmerick Campos,
  • Niara Vanat Nadal,
  • Helena Keiko Toma,
  • Adilson Benedito de Almeida,
  • Matheus Dias Cordeiro,
  • Adivaldo Henrique da Fonseca,
  • Fabiano Borges Figueiredo,
  • Maurício Afonso Verícimo,
  • Nathalie Costa da Cunha,
  • Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0133-2018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 52, no. 0

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Dogs play an epidemiological role in several vector-borne diseases that affect human and animal health worldwide. We aimed to identify rickettsial circulation among dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) from a region endemic for both diseases. METHODS: CVL-seropositive dogs were screened for spotted fever group rickettsiae using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Among the CVL-positive dogs, anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies were identified in one asymptomatic and one oligosymptomatic dog. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows low circulation of antibodies to R. rickettsii in CVL-seropositive dogs. It is recommended that surveillance studies in dogs should continue in order to monitor this scenario.

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