The Laboratory of Hantaviruses and Rickettsiosis (LHR) of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz) has been active since 2004 in research, surveillance, technological development, innovation and training of human resources and teaching related to hantaviruses, arenaviruses and rickettsiosis Postgraduate Course  — term referring to a group of zoonoses caused by subgroup 1 α-proteobacteria (rickettsiae e ehrlichia), subgroup 2 (bartonella) and γ-proteobacteria (Coxiella burnetii) historically studied in the field of rickettsiology. 

It is a Regional Reference for Hantaviruses, Spotted Fever and other Rickettsioses with the Ministry of Health.

The LHR develops health studies related to these conditions, in an integrated manner with actions in quality management, environment, biosafety and health communication in a multidisciplinary context and with the participation of a network of partnerships from different research and teaching institutions. 

Among its initiatives, studies on the occurrence of these diseases in different segments of the population, the analysis of the circulation of hantavirus and rickettsiae in domestic and wild animals in different regions of the country, the investigation of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects stand out. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other lato sensu rickettsiosis such as bartonellosis, Q fever, in addition to other diseases transmitted by ticks, in the context of the differential diagnosis. 

In addition, it carries out research and teaching activities with arthropod vector hosts of rickettsiosis bioagents. 

Head of the Laboratory of Hantaviruses and Rickettsiosis 
Renata Carvalho de Oliveira Pires dos Santos (Curriculum lattes) 

Deputy Head of the Laboratory of Hantaviruses and Rickettsiosis 
Marco Aurélio Pereira Horta (Curriculum lattes)