Serological evidence indicates widespread distribution of rickettsioses in Myanmar

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Htet Naing Lin¹  Thin Thin Nwe²  Ni Ni Zaw³  Wai Mon Kyaw⁴  Win May Thein⁴  Thel K. Hla⁵  Yin Yin Htwe⁶  Htun Linn⁶  Myat Myat Moe⁷  Frank M. Smithuis⁸  Stuart D. Blacksell⁸  Kyaw Soe⁹  Ni Ni Tun⁹  Aung Pyae Phyo⁹  Philip N.D. Elders⁹  Myo Maung Maung Swe⁹  Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai⁹  Alistair R.D. McLean⁹  Wei Yan Aung Htay⁹  Elizabeth A. Ashley^1,10 

[1] Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;Medical Action Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar;University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Myanmar;Magway General Hospital and University of Medicine, Magway, Myanmar;Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand;Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar;Medical Action Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar;Monywa General Hospital, Monywa, Myanmar;Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit, Yangon, Myanmar;National Health Laboratory, Yangon, Myanmar;

关键词: Scrub typhus;    Murine typhus;    Spotted fever group;    Rickettsial infections;    Seroprevalence;    Myanmar;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Little research has been published on the prevalence of rickettsial infections in Myanmar. This study determined the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to rickettsial species in different regions of Myanmar. Methods: Seven hundred leftover blood samples from patients of all ages in primary care clinics and hospitals in seven regions of Myanmar were collected. Samples were screened for scrub typhus group (STG), typhus group (TG) and spotted fever group (SFG) IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Immunofluorescence assays were performed for the same rickettsial groups to confirm seropositivity if ELISA optical density ≥0.5. Results: Overall IgG seroprevalence was 19% [95% confidence interval (CI) 16–22%] for STG, 5% (95% CI 3–7%) for TG and 3% (95% CI: 2–5%) for SFG. The seroprevalence of STG was particularly high in northern and central Myanmar (59% and 19–33%, respectively). Increasing age was associated with higher odds of STG and TG seropositivity [per 10-year increase, adjusted odds ratio estimate 1.68 (p < 0.01) and 1.24 (p = 0.03), respectively]. Conclusion: Rickettsial infections are widespread in Myanmar, with particularly high seroprevalence of STG IgG antibodies in central and northern regions. Healthcare workers should consider rickettsial infections as common causes of fever in Myanmar.

【 授权许可】

Unknown