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Archive Number 20080614.1883
Published Date 14-JUN-2008
Subject PRO/EDR> Spotted fever - Brazil (02): background

SPOTTED FEVER - BRAZIL (02): BACKGROUND
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Date: Sat 14 June 2008
Source: Gideon [edited]
<http://www.GideonOnline.com/blog/>


Spotted fever in Brazil - background
------------------------------------
Rickettsial spotted fever was 1st reported in Brazil in 1920. The disease 
is known locally as "Brazilian spotted fever" and "Febre maculosa 
brasileira". Cases are reported in Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, 
Goias, Rio Grande do Sul, and Espirito Santo.

Seroprevalence surveys: 10.6 per cent of healthy students and 4.11 per cent 
of dogs in the endemic areas of Minas Gerais (1998), 77.3 per cent of 
horses and 31.3 per cent of dogs in Pedreira Municipality, Sao Paulo State 
(2001) 1.6 per cent of healthy persons in Minas Gerais (2005 publication). 
Outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais during 1929 to 1944, but not during 
1945 to 1980.

Subsequent outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais in 1981, 1984, 1992, 
1995, and 2000. 92 cases (40 per cent fatal) were confirmed in Minas Gerais 
during 1981 to 1989; 78 during 1992 to 1997 (including 3 fatal cases in 
1996, and 2 in 1997). 17 cases (8 fatal) were reported in Pedreira county, 
Sao Paulo during 1985 to 1995. 5 fatal cases were reported in Sao Paulo 
State in 2003. 8 outbreaks were reported in Sao Paulo State during 2005.

The principal vectors are _Amblyomma aureolatum_ (areas of Sao Paulo) and 
_A. cajennense_. _A. cooperi_ has also been implicated (in Sao Paulo). 1.3 
per cent of A. cajennense in Minas Gerais carry the organism. Spotted 
fever-group rickettsiae have been found in _Rhipicephalus sanguineus_ in 
Rio de Janeiro state.

_Rickettsia parkeri_ has been identified in 9.7 per cent of A. triste (a 
non-human biting tick) in Pauliceia County, Sao Paulo (2005). _R. parkeri_ 
antibodies have been documented in dogs from urban areas in the western 
Brazilian Amazon. (Monte Negro, Rondonia). The principal reservoir hosts 
are capybara (_Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris_),horses, and occasionally dogs.

Notable outbreaks:
2004 - An outbreak (3 fatal cases) was reported in Maua (Grande Sao Paulo).
2005 - An outbreak (7 cases, 2 fatal) was reported in a mountain resort 
near Rio de Janeiro.
(Primary references are available from the author).

-- 
communicated by:
Professor Steve Berger
Geographic Medicine
Tel Aviv Medical Center
<mberger@post.tau.ac.il>

[see also:
Spotted fever - Brazil: (Sao Paulo) 20080613.1873
2005
---
Spotted fever - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) 20051122.3389
Spotted fever - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) 20051103.3212
2004
---
Spotted fever - Brazil (Sao Paulo) (02): background 20040704.1797
Spotted fever - Brazil (Sao Paulo) 20040702.1772
Undiagnosed deaths - Brazil (Sao Paulo)(02): RFI 20040623.1673
Undiagnosed deaths - Brazil (Sao Paulo): RFI 20040622.1665
2003
---
Rocky Mountain spotted fever - Latin America 20030726.1828
Rocky mountain spotted fever - Brazil (Sao Paulo) 20030725.1814
2002
---
Rickettsiosis, spotted fever - Peru (Piura) 20020713.474
1997
---
Rocky Mountain spotted fever - Brazil (Minas Gerais) 19970903.1886
1995
---
Spotted fever - Brazil 19950818.0707]

.................ep/ejp/sh


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