Ecological aspects of spotted fever in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Spotted fever is an acute febrile disease caused by bacterial agents of the genus Rickettsia, transmitted to humans mainly by ticks and considered reemergent in southeastern Brazil from the 1980s onwards by several ecological factors. Objective: To present the state of the art on ecological interactions related to enzootic cycles and zoonotic overflow related to the disease in Brazil. Methodology: Critical and detailed review of the literature regarding the disease published and indexed to Bireme / BVS until the year 2017. Results: Among others, the growing concern of researchers towards the domiciliation of the disease through contact with domestic animals was demonstrated. with infected ticks in ecotones and areas of recent urbanization. Conclusion: Recent changes in land use and occupation patterns may influence the population dynamics of certain species of ticks, requiring research activities that seek to characterize rickettsial agents, especially in regions still considered epidemiologically silent. It is necessary to organize a national network for the surveillance of environments that operationalizes the research activities and the surveillance processes aimed at this and the other diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors in the country.

Keywords: Spotted Fever. Rickettsia. Ticks. Zoonoses. Ecology.