title: Serologic evidence of human Rickettsia infection found in three locations in Panamá.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the middle of last century, cases of rickettsiosis have been found in Panamá when outbreaks of murine typhus and spotted fever were reported. Since then, little information exists about its prevalence in this country, since it is most often is misdiagnosed as another disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the presence of Rickettsia infections in humans in three locations in Panamá. These locations are agricultural areas, near forested areas or those who work in zoo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three locations where chosen for this study: Tortí, El Valle de Antón and workers in the Summit Municipal Park in Panamá City. All volunteers signed an informed consent and answered a questionnaire. The samples were analyzed for the detection of rickettsial spotted fever and typhus group by the indirect immunofluorescence (using commercial kits) and antigens of Rickettsia rickettsii and R. amblyommii.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood samples were taken from 97 volunteers in Tortí (25), El Valle de Anton (37) and Summit Municipal Park (35). Of these, a total of 38 (39%) samples reacted to one of the two methods: eight (32%) in Tortí, 18 (48%) in El valle and 12 (34%) in Summit Municipal Park.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show a high prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia belonging to the spotted fever group in each of the three study areas, in addition to presenting evidence of the typhus group Rickettsia in El Valle de Anton. These areas could be considered endemic for rickettsiosis as there are conditions for maintaining them.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Sergio E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Cirilo R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Gleydis G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Yamitzel L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zaldíva
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabster
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Griselda B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Arteaga
mesh_terms: D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D065928:Forests; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064927:Tick Bites / Q000382:microbiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G