Serologic Evidence of Scrub Typhus in the Peruvian Amazon

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Aug;23(8):1389-1391. doi: 10.3201/eid2308.170050.

Abstract

Using a large, passive, febrile surveillance program in Iquitos, Peru, we retrospectively tested human blood specimens for scrub typhus group orientiae by ELISA, immunofluorescence assay, and PCR. Of 1,124 participants, 60 (5.3%) were seropositive, and 1 showed evidence of recent active infection. Our serologic data indicate that scrub typhus is present in the Peruvian Amazon.

Keywords: ELISA; IFA; Orientia tsutsugamushi; PCR; Peru; Peruvian Amazon; bacteria; immunofluorescence assay; rickettsia; scrub typhus; serologic analysis; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Scrub Typhus / epidemiology*
  • Scrub Typhus / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies