Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru
Rickettsiae are a family of ectoparasite-borne bacteria that can produce high morbidity and mortality among humans. There are scarce data on rickettsial ecology in rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon basin, where seroprevalence has not been determined, and the identities of animals acting as reservoi...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X24001298 |
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| author | Cusi Ferradas Guillermo Salvatierra David Payahuanca Winnie Contreras Andrés M. López-Pérez Therangika A. Hangawatte Diana León Bruno M. Ghersi Ricardo Gamboa Katia Manzanares Villanueva Viviana Pinedo-Cancino Risa Pesapane Gabriela Salmón-Mulanovich Andrés G. Lescano Janet Foley |
| author_facet | Cusi Ferradas Guillermo Salvatierra David Payahuanca Winnie Contreras Andrés M. López-Pérez Therangika A. Hangawatte Diana León Bruno M. Ghersi Ricardo Gamboa Katia Manzanares Villanueva Viviana Pinedo-Cancino Risa Pesapane Gabriela Salmón-Mulanovich Andrés G. Lescano Janet Foley |
| author_sort | Cusi Ferradas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rickettsiae are a family of ectoparasite-borne bacteria that can produce high morbidity and mortality among humans. There are scarce data on rickettsial ecology in rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon basin, where seroprevalence has not been determined, and the identities of animals acting as reservoirs of these bacteria are not known. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Zungarococha (between 2019 and 2021), a rural community located approximately 20 km away from Iquitos city. Blood samples were collected from humans (175), dogs (123), and cats (12). Blood samples and tissues were collected from black rats (84). Finally, we collected fleas from dogs and cats (222), ticks from dogs (91), and mites from black rats (32). Blood samples from humans, dogs, cats, and black rats were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) to detect IgG antibodies against rickettsias. We screened ectoparasites and black rat tissues by real-time-PCR (qPCR). Positive ectoparasites were further assessed by PCR and DNA amplicon sequencing. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate factors associated with being seropositive among human adults. IgG seroprevalences were 38.3 %, 58.5 %, 16.7 % and 48.1 % among humans, dogs, cats, and rats, respectively. Among humans, only male gender was statistically associated with having IgG antibodies against Rickettsia spp. (p-value=0.049, chi-square test). Different ectoparasites were identified, including Ctenocephalides felis from cats and dogs, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. from dogs, and Laelaps nuttalli from black rats. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (2/91 ticks) and Ct. felis (53/56 fleas and 55/55 flea pools) were qPCR-positive for Rickettsia spp. Recovered genetic material from 53 Ct. felis was sequenced and all were identified as Rickettsia asembonensis. All tissue samples from black rats were negative by qPCR. Humans, dogs, cats, and black rats are exposed to spotted fever group rickettsiae in rural areas surrounding Iquitos. As reported in urban areas, R. asembonensis is the main Rickettsia species circulating in rural areas surrounding Iquitos and Ct. felis appears to be the main vector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6eb736b826da41e2a4247c548527621d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1877-9603 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-6eb736b826da41e2a4247c548527621d2025-02-05T04:31:33ZengElsevierTicks and Tick-Borne Diseases1877-96032025-01-01161102436Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, PeruCusi Ferradas0Guillermo Salvatierra1David Payahuanca2Winnie Contreras3Andrés M. López-Pérez4Therangika A. Hangawatte5Diana León6Bruno M. Ghersi7Ricardo Gamboa8Katia Manzanares Villanueva9Viviana Pinedo-Cancino10Risa Pesapane11Gabriela Salmón-Mulanovich12Andrés G. Lescano13Janet Foley14Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima Peru; Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USADepartment of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Lima PeruEmerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima PeruEmerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima PeruDepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA; Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C, Xalapa MexicoSchool of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, OH USAEmerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima PeruDepartment of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, MA USACenter for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Tumbes PeruAsociacion Benefica Prisma, Iquitos PeruLaboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales Antiparasitarios de la Amazonía, Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales de la Amazonía, Univesidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana (UNAP), Iquitos Peru; Facultad de Medicina Humana. Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana (UNAP), Iquitos PeruSchool of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, OH USA; Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, OH USAInstitute for Nature, Earth and Energy, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, PeruEmerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima Peru; Clima, Latin American Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima PeruDepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA; Corresponding author.Rickettsiae are a family of ectoparasite-borne bacteria that can produce high morbidity and mortality among humans. There are scarce data on rickettsial ecology in rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon basin, where seroprevalence has not been determined, and the identities of animals acting as reservoirs of these bacteria are not known. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Zungarococha (between 2019 and 2021), a rural community located approximately 20 km away from Iquitos city. Blood samples were collected from humans (175), dogs (123), and cats (12). Blood samples and tissues were collected from black rats (84). Finally, we collected fleas from dogs and cats (222), ticks from dogs (91), and mites from black rats (32). Blood samples from humans, dogs, cats, and black rats were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) to detect IgG antibodies against rickettsias. We screened ectoparasites and black rat tissues by real-time-PCR (qPCR). Positive ectoparasites were further assessed by PCR and DNA amplicon sequencing. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate factors associated with being seropositive among human adults. IgG seroprevalences were 38.3 %, 58.5 %, 16.7 % and 48.1 % among humans, dogs, cats, and rats, respectively. Among humans, only male gender was statistically associated with having IgG antibodies against Rickettsia spp. (p-value=0.049, chi-square test). Different ectoparasites were identified, including Ctenocephalides felis from cats and dogs, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. from dogs, and Laelaps nuttalli from black rats. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (2/91 ticks) and Ct. felis (53/56 fleas and 55/55 flea pools) were qPCR-positive for Rickettsia spp. Recovered genetic material from 53 Ct. felis was sequenced and all were identified as Rickettsia asembonensis. All tissue samples from black rats were negative by qPCR. Humans, dogs, cats, and black rats are exposed to spotted fever group rickettsiae in rural areas surrounding Iquitos. As reported in urban areas, R. asembonensis is the main Rickettsia species circulating in rural areas surrounding Iquitos and Ct. felis appears to be the main vector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X24001298Rickettsia spp., Black ratsPetsHumansPeru |
| spellingShingle | Cusi Ferradas Guillermo Salvatierra David Payahuanca Winnie Contreras Andrés M. López-Pérez Therangika A. Hangawatte Diana León Bruno M. Ghersi Ricardo Gamboa Katia Manzanares Villanueva Viviana Pinedo-Cancino Risa Pesapane Gabriela Salmón-Mulanovich Andrés G. Lescano Janet Foley Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Rickettsia spp., Black rats Pets Humans Peru |
| title | Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru |
| title_full | Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru |
| title_fullStr | Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru |
| title_short | Spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats, pets, and humans in Zungarococha community, A rural area in the surroundings of Iquitos, Peru |
| title_sort | spotted fever group rickettsiae in black rats pets and humans in zungarococha community a rural area in the surroundings of iquitos peru |
| topic | Rickettsia spp., Black rats Pets Humans Peru |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X24001298 |
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