Serological evidence of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in and around Puducherry, south India—A three years study

• DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.242562
• Publication Date: 2018-10-01T13:51:38Z
• Authors: Selvaraj Stephen; Stanley Ambroise; Dhandapany Gunase...; Mohammed Hanifah; Balakrishnan Sang...; Jothimani Pradeep; Kengamuthu Sarang...
• Keywords: Q fever

Rickettsial diseases are important re-emerging infections that mostly go unnoticed or misdiagnosed. Though few case reports of Indian tick typhus have been reported in literature the past 10 yr, prevalence surveys and far between. The objective this research was to study seroprevalence spotted fever (SF) group rickettsiosis its coinfection with scrub (ST) Puducherry region south India, as these two may show similar clinical presentations.During 2012-2015, paired sera 320 febrile patients were examined for Rickettsia conorii IgM/IgG by ELISA OX19 OX2 agglutinins Weil-Felix test. Additionally, screened ST IgM ELISA. Statistical analysis performed laboratory parameters children adults using Fisher's exact test chi-square Yates correction.Out patients, 142 (44.38%) had R. and/or IgG antibodies. Only present 72 (22.5%) while 36 positive only 34 both IgM. A total 68 (21.25%) showed antibodies (titres ≥ 1 : 80). SF observed 47 cases (14.69%).Seroprevalence found be quite high (44.38%). 34.50% SG however, require further evaluation PCR rule out cross-reaction false positivity. At seems an affordable alternative highly subjective technically demanding immunofluorescence assay (IFA) serodiagnosis SF.