Prevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae in dogs from southeastern Australia.
Recent epidemiologic data suggests that Rickettsia australis, the cause of Queensland tick typhus, is present in southeastern Australia. In order to further confirm this observation, a canine serosurvey was undertaken to determine if naturally occurring antibodies were present in pet and farm dogs from this newly-recognized endemic area. Thirty-five of 312 surveyed dogs (11.2%) had indirect immunofluorescent antibody titers of 1:64 or greater against R. australis antigen. Positive control sera were obtained from two dogs experimentally inoculated with R. australis. One of these dogs was serially sampled and a rickettsemia could not be documented. None of 26 control sera obtained from dogs from South Australia, New Zealand, western Victoria, or North Carolina had antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:64. These results suggest that spotted fever group rickettsiae are present in Southeastern Australia.
Duke Scholars
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- Tropical Medicine
- Rickettsia Infections
- Rickettsia
- Male
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Female
- Dogs
- Dog Diseases
- Australia
- Antibodies, Bacterial
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tropical Medicine
- Rickettsia Infections
- Rickettsia
- Male
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Female
- Dogs
- Dog Diseases
- Australia
- Antibodies, Bacterial