Ers. Delemos et al., ROCKY-MOUNTAIN-SPOTTED-FEVER IN AN ENDEMIC AREA IN MINAS-GERAIS, BRAZIL, Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 89(4), 1994, pp. 497-501
Only one species of spotted fever-group rickettsiae that is pathogenic
for humans has been isolated in Brazil, where few physicians ave fami
liar with this disease. In order to obtain information on tick-borne r
ickettsiosis, a study was performed in the County of Santa Cruz do Esc
alvado, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where a fatal clinical case con
firmed by specific immunofluorescence had been reported. Serum samples
obtained from 679 humans and 96 dogs were tested by indirect immunofl
uorescence for detectable antibodies to spotted fever-group rickettsia
e, the criterion for a positive result being a titer greater than or e
qual to 1:64. Seropositivity was detected in 7.14% of the humans sera
examined and 13.68% of the dogs. We discuss the significance of these
findings and formulate some questions emphasizing the need for further
investigation.