Banca de DEFESA: RUBENS FABIANO SOARES PRADO

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : RUBENS FABIANO SOARES PRADO
DATE: 20/07/2022
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: VIDEO CONFERÊNCIA
TITLE:

Occupational aspects and molecular diagnosis of tick-borne Rickettsia spp. from military training areas in southeastern Brazil

KEY WORDS:

military training areas, occupational risk, tick-borne diseases, rickettsiae, one health.

PAGES: 120
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Medicina Veterinária Preventiva
SPECIALTY: Doenças Parasitárias de Animais
SUMMARY:

Tick-borne diseases are among the most significant occupational health problems, and military personnel are at particularly high risk due to exposure. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of ticks in military training areas across different municipalities and biomes in the Southeast region of Brazil; to analyze the diversity of ticks collected from domestic and wild animals and human beings in a single military training area; to molecularly detect Rickettsia spp. in free-living tick samples; and to carry out a “survey” of behaviors, attitudes, and practices in the military community regarding the issue of ticks. The research on tick diversity was carried out by means of flannel trawling, flagging, and/or collection from operators’ clothing in 66 areas used for training by six military institutions. A total of 9,374 ticks were collected, representing five genera and 10 species, namely Amblyomma sculptum, A. dubitatum, A. brasiliense, A. longirostre, A. aureolatum, Amblyomma spp., Dermacentor nitens, Riphicephalus spp., Ixodes spp., and Haemaphysalis spp. The study of tick species diversity infesting multiple hosts was carried out in the military area of Resende Municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, in which a total of 1,331 ticks from 111 animals (29 domestic and 82 wild) and 67 ticks parasitizing 31 human military volunteers were collected. The ixodids comprised 14 species distributed in four genera: A. aureolatum, A. auricularium, A. brasiliense, A. calcaratum, A. dubitatum, A. incisum, A. longirostre, A. ovale, A. sculptum, Amblyomma spp., Ixodes loricatus, Ixodes schulzei, D. nitens and R. sanguineus. Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in samples of free-living ticks collected in military training areas yielded 11 positive samples, ten with similarity to Rickettsia bellii (in nine nymphs of A. dubitatum and one nymph of A. sculptum) and two similar to Rickettsia sp. (strains 463 and 464, in two nymphs of A. dubitatum). The detection of ticks positive for Rickettsia spp. suggests an occupational hazard for the military, increasing the risk of human cases. An exploratory survey on the subject was also developed and administered to 655 military personnel from five municipalities in the Southeast region, verifying that ticks were the type of “pest” that most affected military personnel in the field, with most military personnel having already experienced infestation at least once in the region where they serve, some recently. The present work reveals a high frequency of tick species in most military training areas, associated with the traces and presence of wild animals (most often capybaras), suggesting a predisposition to the occurrence of human cases of spotted fever. It is the first record of infestation by A. sculptum, A. brasiliense, and A. aureolatum in military personnel in the country, warns of the hazard of exposing military personnel to ticks infected with Rickettsia spp. in military training areas, and establishes the first base on the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of the military in relation to the subject in Brazil. This One Health research endeavor will contribute to a better understanding of these vectors, their epidemiological network, and the related occupational hazards in military institutions, thereby facilitating sanitary management and prevention measures in these areas.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - ***.018.557-** - ADIVALDO HENRIQUE DA FONSECA - UFRRJ
Interna - 3103478 - MARISTELA PECKLE PEIXOTO
Externa ao Programa - ***.263.207-** - NATHALIE COSTA DA CUNHA - UFF
Externo à Instituição - ITABAJARA DA SILVA VAZ JUNIOR - UFRGS
Externo à Instituição - JENEVALDO BARBOSA DA SILVA - UFVJM
Externa à Instituição - IZABELA MESQUITA ARAÚJO - UFRRJ
Externo à Instituição - ADRIANO PINTER
Externo à Instituição - HERMES RIBEIRO LUZ - UFMA