Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring

Abstract The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii is the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), and its most important vector to humans in Brazil is the tick Amblyomma sculptum. Capybaras are the main hosts of A. sculptum in many BSF-endemic areas and are considered valuable sentinels for BS...

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Main Authors: Lina de Campos Binder, Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández, Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa, Adriano Pinter, Celso Eduardo Souza, Marcelo Bahia Labruna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria 2022-09-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612022000300405&tlng=en
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author Lina de Campos Binder
Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
Adriano Pinter
Celso Eduardo Souza
Marcelo Bahia Labruna
author_facet Lina de Campos Binder
Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
Adriano Pinter
Celso Eduardo Souza
Marcelo Bahia Labruna
author_sort Lina de Campos Binder
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii is the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), and its most important vector to humans in Brazil is the tick Amblyomma sculptum. Capybaras are the main hosts of A. sculptum in many BSF-endemic areas and are considered valuable sentinels for BSF surveillance. This study aimed to assess the persistence of anti-R. rickettsii antibodies for long periods in capybaras and their passive transfer to offspring. For this purpose, three adult capybaras previously exposed to multiple infections with R. rickettsii were followed up until 3.1 years after their last exposure. During the study, one female delivered five cubs, of which three survived. Blood samples were collected monthly from adults and infants, and serum samples were titrated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to determine endpoint titers of anti-R. rickettsii antibodies. All three adults remained seroreactive to R. rickettsii with high endpoint titers until the end of the study. All infants were seroreactive to R. rickettsii after birth and remained seroreactive for one to four months. This study showed that exposure of capybaras to R. rickettsii-infected A. sculptum ticks elicits a persistent antibody response. In addition, there was evidence of passive transfer of R. rickettsii-reactive antibodies to offspring.
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spelling doaj.art-5a40cf7229a74b4c80336cb882f498622022-12-22T02:06:21ZengColégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia VeterinariaRevista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária1984-29612022-09-0131310.1590/s1984-29612022052Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspringLina de Campos BinderAlejandro Ramírez-HernándezMaria Carolina de Azevedo SerpaAdriano PinterCelso Eduardo SouzaMarcelo Bahia Labrunahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9675-3132Abstract The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii is the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), and its most important vector to humans in Brazil is the tick Amblyomma sculptum. Capybaras are the main hosts of A. sculptum in many BSF-endemic areas and are considered valuable sentinels for BSF surveillance. This study aimed to assess the persistence of anti-R. rickettsii antibodies for long periods in capybaras and their passive transfer to offspring. For this purpose, three adult capybaras previously exposed to multiple infections with R. rickettsii were followed up until 3.1 years after their last exposure. During the study, one female delivered five cubs, of which three survived. Blood samples were collected monthly from adults and infants, and serum samples were titrated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to determine endpoint titers of anti-R. rickettsii antibodies. All three adults remained seroreactive to R. rickettsii with high endpoint titers until the end of the study. All infants were seroreactive to R. rickettsii after birth and remained seroreactive for one to four months. This study showed that exposure of capybaras to R. rickettsii-infected A. sculptum ticks elicits a persistent antibody response. In addition, there was evidence of passive transfer of R. rickettsii-reactive antibodies to offspring.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612022000300405&tlng=enSpotted feverAmblyomma sculptumsurveillancetick-borne diseases
spellingShingle Lina de Campos Binder
Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
Adriano Pinter
Celso Eduardo Souza
Marcelo Bahia Labruna
Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária
Spotted fever
Amblyomma sculptum
surveillance
tick-borne diseases
title Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
title_full Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
title_fullStr Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
title_full_unstemmed Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
title_short Long-term persistence of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras, with passive transfer to offspring
title_sort long term persistence of anti rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in capybaras with passive transfer to offspring
topic Spotted fever
Amblyomma sculptum
surveillance
tick-borne diseases
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612022000300405&tlng=en
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