Table 1.

Clinical monitoring of five capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) during one to four exposures (experimental phases I to IV) to Rickettsia rickettsii strain Itu via infestations with R. rickettsii-infected Amblyomma sculptum ticks.

Capybara number	Experimental phases#
	I		II		III		IV
	Rectal Temperature*	Clinical Signs╪	Rectal Temperature*	Clinical Signs╪	Rectal Temperature*	Clinical Signs╪	Rectal Temperature*	Clinical Signs╪
1	36.7 (0.59) [35.4–37.9]	None	36.2 (0.84) [34.9–37.7]	None	36.1 (1.2) [33.4–38.0]	None	35.8 (1.05) [34.0–38.0]	None
2			36.8 (1.76) [32.0–39.7]	Abdominal and thoracic rash (8/12); fever (11/13); lack of appetite (12/14); nasal mucous discharge (13/+); hindlimb weakness (14/+); inappetence (14/+); purplish macules (16/+); prostration (18/+); coma (18/+); rigid limbs (18/+); seizures (18/+); death (18)
3	37.1 (0.55) [35.7–38.2]	None	37.1 (1.87) [32.5–39.8]	Abdominal and thoracic rash (8/12); fever (9/13); lack of appetite (10/14); nasal mucous discharge (11/+); inappetence (14/+); hindlimb weakness (14/+); reluctance to move (15/+); diarrhea (15/+); dark urine (15/+); death (16)
4					36.8 (0.84) [35.4–38.7]	Lack of appetite (11/15); hindlimb weakness (11/16); nasal mucous discharge (12/15); fever (13/13); general weakness (14/16)	35.8 (1.01) [34.0–37.5]	None
5					37.2 (1.13) [34.6–39.2]	Fever (8/11); mucous feces (11/16); lack of appetite (11/14)	36.3 (0.98) [33.9–38.0]	None

^#Phase I, primary infection of capybara no. 1, and retaining capybara no. 3 as noninfected control; phase II, second infection of capybara no. 1 and primary infection of capybaras no. 2 and 3; phase III, third infection of capybara no. 1 and primary infection of capybaras no. 4 and 5; phase IV, fourth infection of capybara no. 1 and second infection of capybaras no. 4 and 5.

*Values in °C, shown as: mean (standard deviation) [range].

^╪Clinical signs (days post infestation with infected ticks: onset/end of clinical sign).

⁺Death.