Resumo Espécies de Rickettsia têm sido responsáveis por doenças transmitidas por carrapatos no mundo, a maioria mantida por hospedeiros amplificadores, como as capivaras em áreas endêmicas no Brasil. A Universidade de São Paulo, em Piracicaba, no sudeste do Brasil, é uma área endêmica para a Febre Maculosa Brasileira (FMB), com alta densidade de capivaras e Amblyomma spp., e com casos humanos confirmados. Além de capivaras, a universidade também possui gatos em um abrigo e de vida livre. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência e as características associadas com exposição à Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri e Rickettsia felis em gatos de área endêmica para a FMB. Dos 51 gatos amostrados, 23/35 (65,7%) do abrigo e 5/16 (31,2%) de vida livre foram positivos (títulos ≥ 64) para pelo menos uma Rickettsia spp. Carrapatos estiveram presentes em 3/16 (18,8%) gatos de vida livre, representados por Amblyomma spp., ninfas de Amblyomma sculptum e adultos de Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Apesar de compartilharem o ambiente com capivaras, os gatos amostrados foram igualmente ou menos expostos à infecção riquetsial do que os gatos com proprietário em outras áreas endêmicas, podendo ser usados como sentinelas para exposição humana à riquétsias nessas áreas.

Abstract Rickettsia spp. bacteria are responsible for tick-borne diseases worldwide, mostly maintained by rickettsial amplifiers capybaras in Brazilian endemic areas. The campus of the University of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, is an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), with high density of capybaras and Amblyomma spp., along with confirmed human cases. Besides capybaras, the university has also an in-campus high population of sheltered and free-roaming cats. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics associated with Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia felis exposure among cats in a BSF-endemic area. Out of 51 cats sampled, 23/35 shelter (65.7%) and 5/16 free-roaming (31.2%) were positive (titers ≥ 64) for at least one Rickettsia species. Ticks species were present in 3/16 free-roaming cats (18.8%), consisting of Amblyomma spp., nymphs of Amblyomma sculptum and adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Despite sharing the capybaras environment, the seropositivity among the free-roaming and shelter cats was lower than owned cats in other endemic areas. Whether equally or less exposed to rickettsial infection, compared with owned cats in endemic areas, free-roaming and shelter cats may be used as environmental sentinels for human exposure to rickettsiae in such areas.

INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that affects both humans and animals. Dogs may serve as sentinels and indicators of environmental contamination as well as potential carriers for Leptospira. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and seroincidence of leptospirosis infection in dogs in an urban low-income community in southern Brazil where human leptospirosis is endemic. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was designed that consisted of sampling at recruitment and four consecutive trimestral follow-up sampling trials. All households in the area were visited, and those that owned dogs were invited to participate in the study. The seroprevalence (MAT titers ≥100) of Leptospira infection in dogs was calculated for each visit, the seroincidence (seroconversion or four-fold increase in serogroup-specific MAT titer) density rate was calculated for each follow-up, and a global seroincidence density rate was calculated for the overall period. RESULTS: A total of 378 dogs and 902.7 dog-trimesters were recruited and followed, respectively. The seroprevalence of infection ranged from 9.3% (95% CI; 6.7 - 12.6) to 19% (14.1 - 25.2), the seroincidence density rate of infection ranged from 6% (3.3 - 10.6) to 15.3% (10.8 - 21.2), and the global seroincidence density rate of infection was 11% (9.1 - 13.2) per dog-trimester. Canicola and Icterohaemorraghiae were the most frequent incident serogroups observed in all follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-ups with mean trimester intervals were incapable of detecting any increase in seroprevalence due to seroincident cases of canine leptospirosis, suggesting that antibody titers may fall within three months. Further studies on incident infections, disease burden or risk factors for incident Leptospira cases should take into account the detectable lifespan of the antibody.

Aoudads (Ammotragus lervia) têm o potencial para atuar como hospedeiros de importantes doenças infecciosas, em particular as zoonoses. Amostras de sangue de 17 aoudads do zoológico de Curitiba foram coletadas para avaliar ocorrências de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Neospora caninum, testados pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Anticorpos anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum foram detectados em 4/17 (23,5%) e 4/17 (23,5%) das amostras dos aoudads, respectivamente. O presente estudo revelou que os aoudads no zoológico de Curitiba estão expostos a T. gondii eN. caninum e, portanto, podem atuar como hospedeiros intermediários e fatores de difusão da toxoplasmose e da neosporose intra e interespécies em áreas compartilhadas.

Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) have the potential to act as hosts of important infectious diseases, particularly zoonoses. Blood samples from 17 Barbary sheep at the Curitiba zoo were collected to evaluate occurrences of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies, tested using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 4/17 (23.5%) and 4/17 (23.5%) samples, respectively. The present study has shown that Barbary sheep at Curitiba zoo were exposed to T. gondii andN. caninum and therefore may act as intermediate hosts, spreading toxoplasmosis and neosporosis within and between species in shared areas.

INTRODUÇÃO: Após 29 anos, raiva em um gato foi detectada em Curitiba, sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foram realizados imunofluorescência direta e prova biológica através de inoculação em camundongos para o diagnóstico da raiva. RESULTADOS: A imunofluorescência direta foi negativa, mas a prova biológica foi positiva e o vírus caracterizado como variante 4 (de morcegos não hematófagos). CONCLUSÕES: O reaparecimento da raiva alerta para o risco aéreo-silvestre de infecção e para a necessidade de monitoramento de morcegos em áreas historicamente livres da raiva.

INTRODUCTION: After 29 years, rabies was detected in a cat in Curitiba, southern Brazil. METHODS: The fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT) were performed on central nervous system (CNS) samples. RESULTS: Direct immunofluorescence was negative, but the biological test was positive and rabies virus was characterized as variant 4 (from Tadarida brasiliensis). CONCLUSIONS: Reappearance of rabies in domestic animals warns of sylvatic-aerial risk of infection and the necessity of monitoring bats in historically rabies-free areas.