A survey of antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii and Ehrlichia chafeensis in domestic animals from a rural area of Colombia.
In a rural area of Colombia endemic for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, we performed indirect immunofluorescent antibody assays for Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. using sera from randomly sampled dogs and horses to test the use of domestic animals as possible sentinels. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were detected in 8 dogs (31.8%). Antibody titers against Rickettsia rickettsii antigen were positive in 4 dogs (18.2%) and 26 horses (16.3%). These values, albeit not directly comparable, are lower than those previously reported for humans in this region. A systemic approach to understanding dynamics of transmission is needed before implementing the use of domestic animals for disease surveillance activities.
Hidalgo
Marylin
M
Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
Vesga
Juan Fernando
JF
Lizarazo
Diana
D
Valbuena
Gustavo
G
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii / Q000276:immunology*; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012424:Rural Population
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial