Emerging Infectious Diseases (Nov 2017)

Bartonella quintana and Typhus Group Rickettsiae Exposure among Homeless Persons, Bogotá, Colombia

  • Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez,
  • Andrea C. Márquez,
  • Diana M. Bravo-Estupiñan,
  • Omar-Javier Calixto,
  • Christian A. López-Castillo,
  • Carlos A. Botero-García,
  • Marylin Hidalgo,
  • Claudia Cuervo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2311.170341
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 11
pp. 1876 – 1879

Abstract

Read online

In 2015, we investigated Bartonella quintana and typhus group rickettsiae in body lice from homeless persons in Bogotá, Colombia. We found B. quintana–infected body lice and seroprevalence of this microorganism in 19% of homeless persons and typhus group rickettsiae in 56%. Public health professionals should start preemptive measures and active vector control.

Keywords