Serological evidence of typhus group rickettsia in a homeless population in Houston, Texas.
We tested sera from 176 homeless people in Houston for antibodies against typhus group rickettsiae (TGR). Sera from 19 homeless people were reactive to TGR antigens by ELISA and IFA. Two people had antibodies against Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus) and the remaining 17 had antibodies against Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus).
Reeves
Will K
WK
Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
Murray
Kristy O
KO
Meyer
Tamra E
TE
Bull
Lara M
LM
Pascua
Rhia F
RF
Holmes
Kelly C
KC
Loftis
Amanda D
AD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012283:Rickettsia prowazekii / Q000276:immunology*; D012286:Rickettsia typhi / Q000276:immunology*; D013781:Texas
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial