Rickettsial spotted fever was first reported in Brazil in 1920.

The disease is known locally as ‘Brazilian spotted fever’ and ‘Febre maculosa brasileira’

Cases are reported in Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Goias, Rio Grande do Sul and Espirito Santo.

Seroprevalence surveys:
10.6% of healthy students and 4.11% of dogs in the endemic areas of Minas Gerais (1998)
77.3% of horses and 31.3% of dogs in Pedreira Municipality, Sao Paulo State (2001)
1.6% of healthy persons in Minas Gerais (2005 publication)

Outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais during 1929 to 1944, but not during 1945 to 1980.
- Subsequent outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais in 1981, 1984, 1992, 1995 and 2000.
- 92 cases (40% fatal) were confirmed in Minas Gerais during 1981 to 1989; 78 during 1992 to 1997 (including 3 fatal cases in 1996, and 2 in 1997).

17 cases (8 fatal) were reported in Pedreira county, Sao Paulo during 1985 to 1995.
- Five fatal cases were reported in Sao Paulo State in 2003.
- Eight outbreaks were reported in Sao Paulo State during 2005.

The principal vectors are Amblyomma aureolatum (areas of Sao Paulo) and Amblyomma cajennense.
- Amblyomma cooperi has also been implicated (in Sao Paulo).
- 1.3% of Am. cajennense in Minas Gerais carry the organism.
- Spotted fever-group rickettsiae have been found in Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Rio de Janeiro state.

Rickettsia parkeri has been identified in 9.7% of Amblyomma triste (a non-human biting tick) in Pauliceia County, Sao Paulo (2005).
- R. parkeri antibodies have been documented in dogs from urban areas in the western Brazilian Amazon. (Monte Negro, Rondonia)

The principal reservoir hosts are capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris), horses and occasionally dogs.

Notable outbreaks:
2004 – An outbreak (3 fatal cases) was reported in Maua (Grande Sao Paulo).
2005 – An outbreak (7 cases, 2 fatal) was reported in a mountain resort near Rio de Janeiro.

Note: Also appeared in ProMED

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