title: Seroepidemiology of Rickettsia typhi, spotted fever group rickettsiae, and Coxiella burnetti infection in pregnant women from urban Tanzania.
abstract: Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) testing was performed on sera drawn from 150 pregnant women in the port city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia typhi was 28%, higher than in any of the 12 other African countries in which serosurveys using IFA testing have been performed. Seroprevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae antigens was 25.3%, comparable with that found in other sub-Saharan countries endemic for Amblyomma ticks. Only 4.7% of women were seropositive for Coxiella burnetii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tissot Dupont
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Mwaikambo
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sexton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012286:Rickettsia typhi / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014437:Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M