High seroprevalence for typhus group rickettsiae, southwestern Tanzania

Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Feb;19(2):317-20. doi: 10.3201/eid1902.120601.

Abstract

Rickettsioses caused by typhus group rickettsiae have been reported in various African regions. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,227 participants from 9 different sites in the Mbeya region, Tanzania; overall seroprevalence of typhus group rickettsiae was 9.3%. Risk factors identified in multivariable analysis included low vegetation density and highway proximity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Prevalence
  • Rickettsia typhi / immunology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Tanzania / epidemiology
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / epidemiology*
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G