High Seroprevalence for Typhus Group Rickettsiae, Southwestern Tanzania

Abstract

Rickettsioses caused by typhus group rickettsiae have been reported in various African regions. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,227 participants from 9 different sites in the Mbeya region, Tanzania; overall seroprevalence of typhus group rickettsiae was 9.3%. Risk factors identified in multivariable analysis included low vegetation density and highway proximity.

Keywords

• typhus group rickettsia
• murine typhus
• Tanzania
• Mbeya region
• vegetation, serology
• typhus group rickettsiae