Whether increases in typhus group rickettsiosis in Galveston County, Texas, USA, are caused by increased recognition or true reemergence is unclear. We conducted a serosurvey that demonstrated Rickettsia typhi antibodies increased from 1.2% in 2013 to 7.8% in 2021 (p<0.001). These findings support pathogen reemergence rather than enhanced recognition alone.
Keywords: Rickettsia; Rickettsia typhi; bacteria; endemic typhus; flea-borne typhus; murine typhus; parasites; typhus group rickettsiosis; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.