Assessing human exposure to spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae in Ontario, Canada (2013-2018): a retrospective, cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Assessing the burden of rickettsial infections in Ontario, Canada, is challenging since rickettsial infections are not reportable to public health. In the absence of reportable disease data, we assessed the burden of rickettsial infections by examining patient serological data and clinical information.

Methods

Our retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients who had Rickettsia serological testing ordered by their physician, in Ontario, from 2013 to 2018. We tested sera from 2755 non-travel patients for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and typhus group rickettsiae (TGR) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) (positive IgG titers ≥1:64). We classified cases using a sensitive surveillance case definition: confirmed (4-fold

SUBMITTER: Nelder MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7368706 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature