Seropositivity for Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in the human population of Mato Grosso, Central-Western Brazil

• Main Authors: Maria Cristina Fuzari Bezerra, Andréia Lima Tomé Melo, Isis Indaiara Gonçalves Granjeiro Taques, Daniel Moura de Aguiar, Richard Campos Pacheco, Renata Dezengrini Slhessarenko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Rickettsiosis; Ehrlichiosis; Immunofluorescence assay
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822017002300399&lng=en&tlng=en
• ISSN: 1678-9849

Abstract INTRODUCTION The epidemiology of Rickettsia and Ehrlichia species infection is underestimated in Mato Grosso State. METHODS: Serum samples obtained during a Dengue outbreak in 2011-2012 were tested via indirect immunofluorescence and/or ELISA. RESULTS: Samples from 19/506 (3.8%) patients presented antibodies for at least one of three Rickettsia species; 2/506 (0.4%) samples reacted against Ehrlichia canis. Most afflicted patients are residents of cities from the south-central region of the state, where these diseases have been reported in animals. CONCLUSIONS: These results show serological evidence of human exposure to Rickettsia and Ehrlichia species in Mato Grosso State.