Objective To understand the epidemiologic characteristics of
endemic typhus in Baoshan city.
Methods Epidemiological data were collected and characteristics were analyzed.
IgG antibody(Ab) of
Rickettsia mooseri and
Orientia tsutsuganushi in
serum of
patients were tested using both Weil-Felix and IFA
method. The
Rickettsia mooseri gltA
gene,
Rickettsia prowazekii gltA
gene,
Orientia tsutsugamushi 56 kDa
protein gene, SFGR ompA
gene,
Ehrlichia sp.
16S rRNA gene and
Anaplasma sp.
16S rRNA gene in
spleen of
mice were examined by
PCR. Results Fifty- eight
endemic typhus cases were found in Longyang district of Baoshan city, during July to August, 2009.Among them, 48 cases were confirmed by
clinical diagnosis and 10 cases by
laboratory tests. The Ab of
Orientia tsutsugamushi Karp
serotype was detected in 3 cases from
laboratory diagnosis. The
spleen samples from 85 Rattns flavipectus were tested using
PCR. Of them, 3 samples for
Rickettsia mooseri gltA
gene showed positive (positive rate was 3.5% ), and the homology of 3
Rickettsia mooseri and
Rickettsia mooseri Wilmington
strain (
GenBank U59714.1) was 100% through comparing
gene sequence. The results of
PCR for detecting
Rickettsia prowazekii,
Orientia tsutsugamushi, SFGR,
Anaplasma sp. and
Ehrlichia. sp were all negative. Conclusion The outbreak of
endemic typhus was confirmed in Longyang district of Baoshan city through epidemiological data,
clinical diagnosis and
laboratory tests.
Rickettsia mooseri
DNA was detected in the dominant Raw flavipectus, suggesting that
endemic typhus did exist in the local areas.