Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: CLOVIS GOMES DE CARVALHO JUNIOR

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : CLOVIS GOMES DE CARVALHO JUNIOR
DATE: 17/02/2023
TIME: 14:30
LOCAL: Videoconferência
TITLE:

INFLUENCE OF CAPYBARA STERILIZATION ON TICK INFECTION IN A BRAZILIAN SPOTTED FEVER TRANSMISSION AREA

KEY WORDS:

Rickettsia rickettsii, ticks, capybaras, epidemiology

PAGES: 109
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUMMARY:

Introduction: Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is a disease caused by the bacteria
Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by ticks and is highly lethal when left untreated. The
first cases reported in Brazil, the disease had a wild or rural profile, where people came
into contact with ticks in forests, waterfalls and farms. Currently, there has been a
process of urbanization of the disease, with confirmed cases in large urban centers. In
this scenario, wild animals with a synanthropic profile, such as capybaras, play a
central role in the epidemiology of the disease, maintaining tick populations in the
environment and amplifying Rickettsia in transmission areas. In this regard. Our study
sterilized a group of capybaras in an open area classified as a transmission area to
assess tick infection by R. rickettsii. Materials and methods: In an area known as
Parque da Ilha, in the city of Divinópolis – MG, Minas Gerais, an acarological survey
was carried out in the park, to determine which areas were most infested by ticks that
carry BSF. Two groups of capybaras that live in the park area were also monitored.
These animals were identified with earrings, subcutaneous microchips and GPS
tracking collars were installed on the leaders. Blood and tick samples collected both in
the field and from the animals were sent to FUNED. Results: 7841 ticks were collected
over ten collection efforts. The most infested areas were those closest to the river and
where there is no human activity, while areas of frequent human use had fewer ticks.
The two groups of capybaras in the park are small, formed by five and four individuals
respectively. The animals' living area is basically restricted to both banks of the river.
Some tick samples were positive for R. rickettsii, indicating circulation of the pathogen
in the study area. Conclusion: Serological and tick PCR results are lacking. For this
reason, it is not possible to reach a definitive conclusion about the work.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - STEFAN VILGES OLIVEIRA - UFU
Externo à Instituição - MARCOS VINÍCIUS RODRIGUES - UNILESTE
Presidente - 1422156 - FERNANDO DE PILLA VAROTTI