In Brazil, Brazilian spotted fever was once considered the only tick-borne rickettsial disease. We report eschar-associated rickettsial disease that occurred after a tick bite. The etiologic agent is most related to Rickettsia parkeri, R. africae, and R. sibirica and probably widely distributed from São Paulo to Bahia in the Atlantic Forest.

Bartonellaspp. comprise an ecologically successful group of microorganisms that infect erythrocytes and have adapted to different hosts, which include a wide range of mammals, besides humans. Rodents are reservoirs of about two-thirds ofBartonellaspp. described to date; and some of them have been implicated as causative agents of human diseases. In our study, we performed molecular and phylogenetic analyses ofBartonellaspp. infecting wild rodents from five different Brazilian biomes. In order to characterize the genetic diversity ofBartonellaspp., we performed a robust analysis based on three target genes, followed by sequencing, Bayesian inference, and maximum likelihood analysis.Bartonellaspp. were detected in 25.6% (117/457) of rodent spleen samples analyzed, and this occurrence varied among different biomes. The diversity analysis ofgltAsequences showed the presence of 15 different haplotypes. Analysis of the phylogenetic relationship ofgltAsequences performed by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood showed that theBartonellaspecies detected in rodents from Brazil was closely related to the phylogenetic group A detected in other cricetid rodents from North America, probably constituting only one species. Last, theBartonellaspecies genogroup identified in the present study formed a monophyletic group that includedBartonellasamples from seven different rodent species distributed in three distinct biomes. In conclusion, our study showed that the occurrence ofBartonellabacteria in rodents is much more frequent and widespread than previously recognized.IMPORTANCEIn the present study, we reported the occurrence ofBartonellaspp. in some sites in Brazil. The identification and understanding of the distribution of this important group of bacteria may allow the Brazilian authorities to recognize potential regions with the risk of transmission of these pathogens among wild and domestic animals and humans. In addition, our study accessed important gaps in the biology of this group of bacteria in Brazil, such as its low host specificity, high genetic diversity, and relationship with otherBartonellaspp. detected in rodents trapped in America. Considering the diversity of newly discoveredBartonellaspecies and the great ecological plasticity of these bacteria, new studies with the aim of revealing the biological aspects unknown until now are needed and must be performed around the world. In this context, the impact ofBartonellaspp. associated with rodents in human health should be assessed in future studies.

Key words: Q fever; Coxiella burnetii ; Domestic animals; Molecular diagnosis; Brazil

We report a case of Q fever in a man who presented with fever of 40 days duration associated with thrombocytosis. Serological and molecular analysis (polymerase chain reaction) confirmed infection with Coxiella burnetii. A field study was conducted by collecting blood samples from the patient's family and from the animals in the patient's house. The patient's wife and 2 of 13 dogs showed seroreactivity. Our data indicate that C. burnetii may be an underrecognized cause of fever in Brazil and emphasize the need for clinicians to consider Q fever in patients with a febrile illness, particularly those with a history of animal contact.

This study verified the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in dogs, cats, wild mammals and their ectoparasites in Petrolina and Lagoa Grande Counties, Pernambuco, located in a semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. Anti-Bartonella spp. antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 24.8% of dogs (27/109) and in 15% of cats (6/40). Bartonella sp. DNA was identified by PCR performed on DNA extracted from blood and ectoparasites using primers targeting Bartonella sp. gltA and ribC genes in 100% (9/9) of Pulex irritans from Cerdocyon thous, 57.4% (35/61) of P. irritans from dogs, 2.3% (1/43) of Ctenocephalides felis felis from dogs, 53.3% (24/45) of C. felis felis from cats, and 10% (1/10) of Polyplax spp. from Thrichomys apereoides. DNA sequencing identified Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae in C. felis felis from cats, Bartonella rochalimae in P. irritans from dog and C. thous, and Bartonella vinsoni berkhofii in P. irritans from dog.