[A high prevalence of antibodies against Bartonella and Babesia microti has been found in villages and urban populations in Cordoba, Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Establishing seroprevalence against Bartonella and Babesia microti in arural population exposed and/or non-exposed to domestic animals in Cordoba,Colombia.


METHODS
Sera samples taken from 80 people from Montería and Cereté (Córdoba department) were analysed; the population sample was chosen by non-probabilistic means. Anti-Bartonella and Babesia microti were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI), (Focus Technologies, Cypres, CA, USA).


RESULTS
Total anti-bartonella IgG seroprevalence was 48,7 % (39/80), 77 % being male and 23 % female. Bartonella quintana seropositivity was 45 % (36/80) and Bartonella henselae seropositivity 30 % (24/80); 21 of these individuals (26,2 %) had antibodies to both bartonellas. Babesia microti seroprevelence was 30,6 % (23/80),65 % being male patients.


CONCLUSIONS
High Bartonella and Babesia seroprevelence showed that infection levels had been underestimated in Colombia. Medical and sanitary authorities on the Caribbean coast of Colombia must take measures for monitoring the distribution,propagation and identification of human populations at risk of contracting infection by these micro-organisms and also orientate diagnosis and enable suitable prevention strategies to be developed for these diseases.
Buelvas
Francisco
F
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia. buelvasfrancisco@hotmail.com
Alvis
Nelson
N
Buelvas
Indira
I
Miranda
Jorge
J
Mattar
Salim
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000276:immunology*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000276:immunology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014504:Urban Health
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan