Rocky Mountain spotted fever in an endemic area in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Only one species of spotted fever-group rickettsiae that is pathogenic for humans has been isolated in Brazil, where few physicians are familiar with this disease. In order to obtain information on tick-borne rickettsiosis, a study was performed in the County of Santa Cruz do Escalvado, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where a fatal clinical case confirmed by specific immunofluorescence had been reported. Serum samples obtained from 679 humans and 96 dogs were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for detectable antibodies to spotted fever-group rickettsiae, the criterion for a positive result being a titer > or = 1:64. Seropositivity was detected in 7.14% of the humans sera examined and 13.68% of the dogs. We discuss the significance of these findings and formulate some questions, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
de Lemos
E R
ER
Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Machado
R D
RD
Coura
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial