title: Rickettsial antibody in southern France: antibodies to Rickettsia conorii and Coxiella burnetii among urban, suburban and semi-rural blood donors.
abstract: Three hundred and twenty-five sera from blood donors in the south of France were examined by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test. 18% of the sera had antibodies to Rickettsia conorii, with a significantly higher prevalence (26%) in urban and suburban areas than in semi-rural areas (13 to 16%). This supports the view that in the south of France the highest prevalence of Mediterranean Spotted Fever is suburban. 5% of the sera had antibodies to Coxiella burnetti in this area, in which Q fever is endemic.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Bactériologie, C.H.U. la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaudet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiche-Portiche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000276:immunology; D003381:Coxiella / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial