title: [Rickettsial diseases in Brazil and Portugal: occurrence, distribution and diagnosis].
abstract: The present study is an update review on the occurrence and diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in Brazil and Portugal, aiming at promoting their epidemiological surveillance in both countries. A literature review was carried out and unpublished data of laboratories and surveillance systems were presented. The results described the occurrence of rickettsial diseases and infections in Brazil and Portugal, including other new and still poorly understood rickettsial infections. Current diagnostic methods were discussed. As in many other countries, rickettsial diseases and infections seem to be an emerging public health problem. Treated as a minor problem for many decades, the interest in these infections has increased in both countries but further studies are needed to establish their role as a public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio Antonio Moreira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Luiz Jacintho da
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Elvira Maria Mendes
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Simone Berger
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Calic
authors.forename: Rita de
authors.initials: Rd
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bacellar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001179:Arthropod Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D015994:Incidence; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology