A sero-epidemiological survey of asymptomatic cases of Boutonneuse fever in western Sicily.
963 sera from contacts, persons from various localities, and blood donors were examined with a commercially produced kit for micro-immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies to Rickettsia conorii. 10.6% of sera were serologically positive. The higher rates of positivity were observed in sera of contacts (19%) and persons from Mussomeli (20%) and Ustica (18.4%), the lower rates in blood donors from Palermo (3.5%). These results support the view that there is an occupational risk factor related to a rural environment.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology; D012288:Rickettsiaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012802:Sicily
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial