Seroepidemiology of Rickettsia typhi, Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae, and Coxiella burnetti Infection in Pregnant Women from Urban Tanzania

Nicholas M. Anstey Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Herve Tissot Dupont Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Christine G. Hahn Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Esther D. Mwaikambo Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Malcolm I. McDonald Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Didier Raoult Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Daniel J. Sexton Duke-Muhimbili Clinical Research Laboratory and Department of Paediatrics, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Unite des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Faculte de Medicine, Dares es Salaam, Tanzania

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Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) testing was performed on sera drawn from 150 pregnant women in the port city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia typhi was 28%, higher than in any of the 12 other African countries in which serosurveys using IFA testing have been performed. Seroprevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae antigens was 25.3%, comparable with that found in other sub-Saharan countries endemic for Amblyomma ticks. Only 4.7% of women were seropositive for Coxiella burnetii.

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