Serologic survey for rickettsiosis in bats from São Paulo city, Brazil.
Blood serum samples were collected from 451 bats captured within the São Paulo city from April 2007 to November 2008, and individually tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay against antigens derived from five Rickettsia species reported to occur in Brazil: the spotted fever group (SFG) species R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and the ancestral group species R. bellii. For this purpose, an anti-bat immunoglobulin G was produced and used in the present study. Overall, 8.6% (39/451), 9.5% (34/358), 7.8% (28/358), 1.1% (4/358), and 0% (0/358) serum samples were reactive to R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and R. bellii, respectively. Endpoint titers of reactive sera ranged from 64 to 256. From 20 bat species of 3 different families (Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Phyllostomidae), 46 animals were shown to be reactive to at least one rickettsial antigen. Seropositivity per bat species ranged from 0% to 33.3%. Most of the serologically positive sera reacted with two or more rickettsial antigens. Seropositivity for SFG rickettsial antigens in the absence of reactivity against R. bellii (ancestral group species) suggests that bats from São Paulo city can be infected by SFG rickettsiae. The possible role of soft ticks in serving as vectors of SFG rickettsiae to bats within the São Paulo city, associated to its public health risks, is discussed.
D'Auria
Sandra Regina N
SR
Zoonoses Control Center of São Paulo City, São Paulo State, Brazil.
Camargo
Maria Cecilia G O
MC
Pacheco
Richard C
RC
Savani
Elisa San Martin Mouriz
ES
Dias
Maria Adelaide Galvão
MA
da Rosa
Adriana Ruckert
AR
de Almeida
Marilene Fernandes
MF
Labruna
Marcelo B
MB
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002685:Chiroptera; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial