Abstract
ABSTRACT. Cordeiro M.D., Raia V.A., Valim J.R.A., Castro G.N.S., Souza C.E. & Fonseca A.H. [Frequency of antibodies class IgG anti-Rickettsia rickettsii in horses of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica campus.] Frequência de anticorpos da classe IgG anti-Rickettsia rickettsii em equinos na Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Seropédica. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 37(1):78-82, 2015. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Seropédica, BR 465, Km7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brasil. E-mail: adivaldo@ufrrj.br The aim of this study was to verify, through the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the frequency of anti-Rickettsia rickettsii antibodies in horses at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica campus, state of Rio de Janeiro. We analyzed serum samples from 42 horses from Department of Breeding Equine of UFRRJ. All samples were tested using fixed slides with antigens for R. rickettsii, Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia parkeri. We observed an overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. 83.33% (35/42). For the agent R. rickettsii revealed a prevalence of 66.67% (28/42), still being categorized in titers of 1:64 (19/28) and 1:128 (9/28). Nine of the 28 positives horses for R. rickettsii (21.43%) were no reactive to other agents, with titers 1:64 (8/9) and 1:128 (1/9). The only tick species found parasitizing horses on the campus of UFRRJ during the collection period were Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor nitens. The UFRRJ presents an environment that provides a ideal epidemiological niche for the permanence of Rickettsia bacteria. The high prevalence found in this study indicates that attention to epidemiological agent of Brazilian Spotted Fever in the study area is of utmost importance. The aim of this study was to verify, through the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the frequency of anti-R. rickettsii antibodies in horses at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica campus, state of Rio de Janeiro. We analyzed serum samples from 42 horses Department Breeding Equine of UFRRJ. All samples were tested using fixed slides with antigens for R. rickettsii, Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia parkeri. We observed an overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. 83.33% (35/42). For the agent R. rickettsii revealed a prevalence of 66.67% (28/42), still being categorized in titers of 1:64 (19/28) and 1:128 (9/28). Nine of the 28 positives horses for R. rickettsii (21.43%) were no reactive to other agents, with titers 1:64 (8/9) and 1:128 (1/9). The only tick species found parasitizing horses on the campus of UFRRJ during the collection period were Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor nitens. The UFRRJ presents an environment that provides an ideal epidemiological niche for the circulation of rickettsia bacteria. The high prevalence found in this study indicates a probable circulation of Rickettsia spp., having thus risk for human infection in the study area