Publications by authors named "Marcelo Labruna"

Background: Brazilian spotted fever is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, whose main vector in Brazil is the tick Amblyomma sculptum. Amplifying hosts are essential for the perpetuation of this bacterium in the tick population as they can be sources of infection during bacteremic periods. Recent studies demonstrated the ability of suids (Sus scrofa) to sustain populations of A.

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Wolbachia is an intracellular endosymbiont bacterium found in nematodes and arthopods. Regarding mites, the Wolbachia supergroup U has been described based on strains found in the genus Spinturnix. In this study, ten specimens of Periglischrus iheringi (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae), collected from Artibeus obscurus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Santa Catarina State, were found to be infected with Wolbachia.

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The tick fauna of El Salvador is currently represented by 10 species of hard ticks (family Ixodidae) and 2 species of soft ticks (family Argasidae). This study aimed to report new and additional records of ticks and rickettsiae in El Salvador. During 2019-2021, a total of 216 specimens of ticks were collected from eight host species (domestic and wild animals) and in the environment among 15 geographic localities of El Salvador.

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The life-cycle of Amblyomma calcaratum was evaluated experimentally under laboratory conditions using birds (Serinus canaria, Gallus gallus) and rodents (Calomys callosus) as hosts for immatures and a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as host for adults. Developmental periods of the non-parasitic stages were observed in an incubator at 27 °C and 90% RH. The passerine S.

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Dispersal patterns of zoonotic pathogens can be strongly influenced by mobility and contact among hosts. Toxoplasma gondii infection has been documented in many avian species, however, there is little information regarding free-living seabird populations. Leptospira can infect domestic and wild animals, with birds being potential carriers of the bacteria.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere, while Brazil has seen claims of a separate Lyme-like condition known as Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS) since the 1990s, although its existence remains debated.
  • - Researchers reviewed 35 years of literature on BYS, analyzing 199 reported human cases and studies on ticks and animals to evaluate the condition's validity in Brazil.
  • - The conclusion drawn from the review is that there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of Lyme borreliosis or BYS in Brazil due to issues in diagnostic methods, raising concerns about their reliability and accuracy.
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Wild animals and domestic dogs living in human dwellings near forested areas can share ectoparasites, including ticks. In this study, we surveyed ticks associated with dogs which tutors living in the Palmares Environmental Protection Area (EPA Palmares). Dogs were classified into three categories, domiciled, semi-domiciled and wandering dogs according to dog care/ type of dwelling.

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This study evaluated two surgical sterilization techniques in free-ranging female capybaras ( = 21). The first group underwent uterine horn ligature (HL; = 11), while the second was subjected to partial salpingectomy (S; = 10). We assessed total operative time, incision length, the ease of identifying reproductive structures, the adequacy of exposure for surgical performance through flank or midline approaches, and the extent of abdominal viscera manipulation for each method.

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The Brazilian tick fauna currently comprises 77 valid species categorized into two families: Ixodidae (53 species) and Argasidae (24 species). In the state of Alagoas, only six Ixodid ticks have been reported to date, with no previous reports of ticks in the Argasidae family. Here, we assessed 33 White-eared Opossum (Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840) rescued in the metropolitan region of Maceió and referred to the Wild Animal Screening Center (Cetas) in the city.

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Wild boars ( L.) are considered among the most harmful invasive species worldwide, causing irreversible ecosystem damage, acting as zoonotic spreaders and reservoirs, threatening human and animal health, and having an important economic impact. Accordingly, the present study has assessed the rickettsial exposure, tick infestation of wild boars, and rickettsial DNA presence in ticks from infested animals from the Cerrado biome in midwestern Brazil.

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There is limited knowledge about tick diversity in the Amazon region. Here, we survey small terrestrial mammals for tick infestation at the Rio Pardo settlement, Amazonas State, Brazil. Sampling included rainy and dry seasons and four ecotones (primary forest, forest in regeneration, field crops and households).

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This study aimed to detect, isolate and to characterize by molecular methods a relapsing fever group (RFG) in white-eared opossums () from Brazil. During 2015-2018, when opossums ( spp.) were captured in six municipalities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, molecular analyses revealed the presence of a novel RFG sp.

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Ticks parasitize a wide variety of wild animals, including amphibians and reptiles. In addition to the possibility of microorganism transmission to these hosts, ticks can also cause severe bleeding, and high parasitism can lead to death. Therefore, knowing the diversity of ticks parasitizing amphibians and reptiles is important for conservation and preservation measures for these vertebrates.

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Ticks are ectoparasite vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health worldwide. Rational integration of different control interventions including plant-derived repellents and acaricides, management of natural predators, and vaccines is required for innovative approaches to reduce the risks associated with ticks and tick-borne diseases. How tick populations are naturally controlled is always a question.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tick-borne diseases pose serious health risks to both animals and humans, with Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) being significant concerns in canine and human populations.
  • A study conducted in Ceará State, Brazil, sampled 208 dogs to assess the presence of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp., and identified the tick species infesting these dogs.
  • Findings showed a higher infection rate of E. canis in Sobral (9.9%) compared to Alcântaras (5.6%), with Rhipicephalus sanguineus as the most common tick species, and indicated a low risk of exposure to Rickettsia
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Article Synopsis
  • Borrelia theileri is a tick-borne spirochete that causes health issues like fever and reduced food intake in cattle, and this study explores its presence in wild tapirs in South America.* -
  • Researchers collected blood samples from 99 tapirs across the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes, using a qPCR assay to detect B. theileri DNA, finding a low positive rate of 2% in tapirs from the Pantanal.* -
  • The study found sequences of B. theileri in tapirs closely related to previously detected sequences in cattle and various tick species from different regions, expanding knowledge on the potential hosts of this pathogen.*
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Indigenous health has posted complex challenges worldwide, particularly due to historical economic, territorial, social and environmental processes, which may lead to emergence and reemergence of pathogens. In addition to few Coxiella burnetii serosurveys in vulnerable populations, especially in developing tropical countries, no comprehensive One Health approach has focused on human-animal infection along with potential environmental determinants. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-C.

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Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen Coxiella burnetii, for which domestic ruminants are the primary source of infection in humans. Herein, we investigated the presence of C. burnetii in humans, sheep, and goats in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil.

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The domestic cat is not considered a primary host for any specific tick species; however, it can be affected by some Ixodidae species, such as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Amblyomma spp. The study reports parasitism by Amblyomma auricularium and the detection of anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies in domestic cats from a rural property in the Afrânio municipality, Pernambuco, Brazil.

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Background: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most important tick species affecting cattle in the world. Under field conditions, the non-parasitic phase of R. (B.

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In this study, we report soft ticks from bat-inhabiting caves in different areas of Brazil. From 2010 to 2019, we collected 807 tick specimens from nine caves located in four Brazilian states among two biomes. Ticks were morphologically identified as Antricola guglielmonei (282 specimens), Ornithodoros cavernicolous (260 specimens), and Ornithodoros fonsecai (265 specimens).

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This study was carried out from February 2020 to September 2021 in Parque Nacional das Emas (PNE), a national park located in the Cerrado biome, midwestern Brazil, as well as in surrounding rural properties. Serum and tick samples were collected from dogs, terrestrial small mammals, and humans. Ticks were also collected from the environment.

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Article Synopsis
  • A 12-year study on ticks found on free-ranging jaguars in the Pantanal and Amazon biomes showed that 77 out of 100 jaguars were infested with ticks, accumulating a total of 1,002 ticks across various species.
  • Statistical analyses revealed that while jaguar weight influenced tick presence, factors such as age, gender, and seasonality had little effect on tick infestation.
  • The research identified seasonal patterns in tick populations, particularly noting higher numbers of adult Amblyomma sculptum in the first half of the year, and it marked the first long-term research on tick infestations in jaguars along with the first reported case of Amblyomma incisum infesting a jaguar.
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The current work assessed the infection with Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, and exposure to Rickettsia spp. in free-ranging capybaras in the Iberá wetlands ecoregion in Argentina. By indirect immunofluorescence assay, 37 out of 51 (73%) capybara sera were seropositive to Rickettsia spp.

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Background And Aim: Studies on ticks of public health concern in equine husbandry are scarce in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed to investigate the presence of ticks on horses in the State of Alagoas, which is classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis.

Materials And Methods: Ticks infesting horses were collected using anatomical tweezers or a commercial hook and kept in ethanol-labeled tubes for taxonomic identification.

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