Abstract
This study describes experimental infection of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) infested with naturally infected Amblyomma ovale nymphs with Rickettsia sp. (Atlantic rainforest strain), and the capacity of A. ovale nymphs to transmit this bacterium. Twenty-six guinea pigs were divided into the following groups: G1, 10 animals infested with uninfected A. ovale nymphs; G2, 10 animals infested with nymphs infected with Rickettsia sp. (Atlantic rainforest strain); and G3, 6 animals without tick infestation. Blood samples were taken 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-infestation for serological and hematological tests. For histopathological analysis and rickettsial DNA detection, fragments of the spleen, lung, brain, and liver were harvested after euthanasia. The average feeding period for nymphs was 6.6 days for G1 and 6 days for G2. Hemolymph and PCR assays, performed to detect the causative agent in ticks, indicated that in G1, all ticks were negative, and in G2, all nymphs were positive by PCR and 80% (8/10) was positive by hemolymph tests. The only clinical change was skin scarring at the tick attachment site. Hematological parameters indicated leukopenia and total plasma protein (TPP) increased with decreased platelets in G1. In G2, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, an increase in platelets, and reduced TPP were observed. Only G2 guinea pigs were seroconverted (80%; 8/10). Histopathology tests indicated mild, diffuse hemosiderosis and mild, multifocal, follicular hyperplasia in the spleen. Molecular analysis did not detect Rickettsia sp. DNA in C. porcellus tissues. We demonstrated the capacity of A. ovale nymphs to transmit Rickettsia sp. (Atlantic rainforest strain) to guinea pigs.
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The authors are grateful to the Brazilian agencies (CNPq and CAPES) for all financial support.
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All experimental practices involving animals were approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) (Protocol number 072/2013).
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Highlights
- It described the experimental infection in Cavia porcellus by Rickettsia sp. (strain Atlantic rainforest).
- This study examined the capacity vectorial of A. ovale nymphs in transmitting R. parkeri.
- A. ovale has competence to transmit Rickettsia sp. (strain Atlantic rainforest) to C. porcellus.
- Rickettsia sp. (strain Atlantic rainforest) has lower pathogenicity in C. porcellus.
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Brustolin, J.M., da Silva Krawczak, F., Alves, M.E.M. et al. Experimental infection in Cavia porcellus by infected Amblyomma ovale nymphs with Rickettsia sp. (Atlantic rainforest strain). Parasitol Res 117, 713–720 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5741-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5741-2