title: Domestic cats as indicators of the presence of spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae.
abstract: Using indirect immunofluorescence assays, sera from cats in Zimbabwe (n = 119) and South Africa (n = 52) were found to contain antibodies reactive with Rickettsia conorii (34% and 19% respectively) and R. typhi (7% and 10% respectively). These results indicate that cats may become infected with members of the spotted fever and typhus groups of rickettsiae and that cats can, therefore, be used as indicators of the presence of these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matthewman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Downie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rycroft
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats / Q000382:microbiology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012286:Rickettsia typhi / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology