title: Antibodies against rickettsia in humans and potential vector ticks from Dhofar, Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent of rickettsial infections prevalence of potential vector ticks in the rural population of Dhofar, Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human sera (n = 347) were obtained from six rural localities (school children, farmers, outpatients) in Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. Sera were tested by immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies reacting with Rickettsia conorii antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half the samples (59%) gave positive reactions (titres of at least 1:64). Ticks (n=707) were collected from cattle, camels and goats (n=102) and included Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma a. anatolicum, H. dromedarii, H. rufipes and Rhipicephalus spp., all of which can potentially transmit rickettsiae to humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that rickettsial infections are common among the rural population of Dhofar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O.Box: 35, Postal Code: 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; ; Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health and.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruppel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petney
keywords: Dhofar; Oman; Rickettsia; antibodies; camels; cattle; goats; immunofluorescence; vector ticks
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