Serological evidence of infection with Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis among the human population of Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain.
Murine typhus (MT) is a cause of fever of intermediate duration in the south of Spain. Rickettsia typhi has been described as the MT etiological agent. Rickettsia felis produces an infection similar to MT. The aim of the study is to determine their seroprevalence in humans in Catalonia. Antibodies to Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis from 217 serum samples were examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Age, gender, residence area, contact with animals, and occupation were surveyed. Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis seroprevalences were 8.8% and 3.2%, respectively. Rickettsia typhi was present in 7.6% of the samples in urban, 8.5% in semirural, and in 21.4% in rural areas, whereas Rickettsia felis was present in 3.5% in urban, 1.7% in semirural, and 7.1% in rural area. The only statistically significant association observed was that between Rickettsia felis seropositivity and age. Our data seem to indicate the presence of Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis in humans in Catalonia.
Nogueras
María Mercedes
MM
Infectious Diseases Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.
Cardeñosa
Neus
N
Sanfeliu
Isabel
I
Muñoz
Tomás
T
Font
Bernat
B
Segura
Ferran
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D041161:Rickettsia felis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012286:Rickettsia typhi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014437:Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014505:Urban Population
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial