Detection of rickettsioses and Q fever in Sri Lanka

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Apr;86(4):711-2. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0424.

Abstract

Current serological evidence suggests the presence of scrub typhus and spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis in Sri Lanka. Our objective was to identify rickettsial agents/Q fever as aetiological causes for patients who were presumed having rickettsioses by the presence of an eschar or a rash. Sera from patients with unknown origin fever from Matara were tested by immunofluorescence for SFG rickettsial antigens, typhus group rickettsiae, Orientia tsutsugamushi, and Coxiella burnetii antigens. Thirteen (7.3%) of the patients presented with a rash, 11 (6.1%) had an inoculation eschar, and 16 patients recalled a tick or flea bite. We found that 25 (14%) patients had scrub typhus, 6 (3%) SFG rickettsioses, 3 (1.6%) acute Q fever, 3 (1.6%) murine typhus, and 3 (1.6%) were infected by Rickettsia felis. In addition to already described scrub and murine typhus, we found that R. felis and C. burnetii infections should be considered in Sri Lanka.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings / microbiology
  • Coxiella burnetii / isolation & purification
  • Coxiella burnetii / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / isolation & purification
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / pathogenicity
  • Q Fever / diagnosis*
  • Q Fever / epidemiology*
  • Q Fever / microbiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Rickettsia / pathogenicity
  • Scrub Typhus / diagnosis*
  • Scrub Typhus / epidemiology*
  • Scrub Typhus / microbiology
  • Sri Lanka / epidemiology
  • Ticks / microbiology