Abstract
Although potential arthropod vectors are abundant in Cameroon, acute febrile illnesses are rarely evaluated for arboviral or rickettsial infections. Serum samples from 234 acutely febrile patients at clinics in Tiko and Buea, Cameroon, were examined for antibodies to Rickettsia africae and African alphaviruses and flaviviruses. These serum samples did not contain antibodies against typhoid, and blood malarial parasites were not detected. Serum samples of 32% contained immunoglobulin M antibodies reactive with R. africae by immunofluorescence assay and were reactive with outer membrane proteins A and B of R. africae by immunoblotting. These findings established a diagnosis of acute rickeftsiosis, most likely African tick-bite fever. Hemagglutination inhibition testing of the serum samples also detected antibodies to chikungunya virus (47%) and flaviviruses (47%). High prevalence of antibodies to arboviruses may represent a major, previously unrecognized public health problem in an area where endemic malaria and typhoid fever have been the principal diagnostic considerations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 432-437 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Mar 2004 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology (medical)
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Acute Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis among Febrile Patients, Cameroon. / Ndip, Lucy M.; Bouyer, Donald; Travassos Da Rosa, Amelia P A; Titanji, V. P K; Tesh, Robert B.; Walker, David.
In: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 10, No. 3, 03.2004, p. 432-437.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis among Febrile Patients, Cameroon
AU - Ndip, Lucy M.
AU - Bouyer, Donald
AU - Travassos Da Rosa, Amelia P A
AU - Titanji, V. P K
AU - Tesh, Robert B.
AU - Walker, David
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - Although potential arthropod vectors are abundant in Cameroon, acute febrile illnesses are rarely evaluated for arboviral or rickettsial infections. Serum samples from 234 acutely febrile patients at clinics in Tiko and Buea, Cameroon, were examined for antibodies to Rickettsia africae and African alphaviruses and flaviviruses. These serum samples did not contain antibodies against typhoid, and blood malarial parasites were not detected. Serum samples of 32% contained immunoglobulin M antibodies reactive with R. africae by immunofluorescence assay and were reactive with outer membrane proteins A and B of R. africae by immunoblotting. These findings established a diagnosis of acute rickeftsiosis, most likely African tick-bite fever. Hemagglutination inhibition testing of the serum samples also detected antibodies to chikungunya virus (47%) and flaviviruses (47%). High prevalence of antibodies to arboviruses may represent a major, previously unrecognized public health problem in an area where endemic malaria and typhoid fever have been the principal diagnostic considerations.
AB - Although potential arthropod vectors are abundant in Cameroon, acute febrile illnesses are rarely evaluated for arboviral or rickettsial infections. Serum samples from 234 acutely febrile patients at clinics in Tiko and Buea, Cameroon, were examined for antibodies to Rickettsia africae and African alphaviruses and flaviviruses. These serum samples did not contain antibodies against typhoid, and blood malarial parasites were not detected. Serum samples of 32% contained immunoglobulin M antibodies reactive with R. africae by immunofluorescence assay and were reactive with outer membrane proteins A and B of R. africae by immunoblotting. These findings established a diagnosis of acute rickeftsiosis, most likely African tick-bite fever. Hemagglutination inhibition testing of the serum samples also detected antibodies to chikungunya virus (47%) and flaviviruses (47%). High prevalence of antibodies to arboviruses may represent a major, previously unrecognized public health problem in an area where endemic malaria and typhoid fever have been the principal diagnostic considerations.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 15109409
AN - SCOPUS:1542377354
VL - 10
SP - 432
EP - 437
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
SN - 1080-6040
IS - 3
ER -