Author/Authors :
Tekin, Alicem Mardin Kadın Doğum ve Çocuk Hastalıkları Hastanesi - Tıbbi Mikrobiyoloji, Turkey , Gözalan, Ayşegül Salgın Hastalıklar Araştırma Müdürlüğü - Refik Saydam Hıfzıssıhha Merkezi Başkanlığı, Turkey , Çöplü, Nilay Salgın Hastalıklar Araştırma Müdürlüğü - Refik Saydam Hıfzıssıhha Merkezi Başkanlığı, Turkey , Yılmaz, Gürdal Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi (KTÜ) - Tıp Fakültesi - Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Köksal, İftihar Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi (KTÜ) - Tıp Fakültesi - Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Esen, Berrin Salgın Hastalıklar Araştırma Müdürlüğü - Refik Saydam Hıfzıssıhha Merkezi Başkanlığı, Turkey , Ertek, Mustafa Salgın Hastalıklar Araştırma Müdürlüğü - Refik Saydam Hıfzıssıhha Merkezi Başkanlığı, Turkey
Abstract :
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the seropositivity of rickettsial infections (rickettsioses) and to assess risky behaviors for rickettsioses in North Anatolia, which have dense tick population.Materials and methods: Blood samples of 409 voluntary participants were collected in a cross-sectional seroprevalence research in Samsun-Tekkeköy and 171 from Samsun Regional Laboratory, KTÜ Medical Faculty/Clinic of Infection Diseases and Tokat State Hospital to determine regional characteristics and risk factors of rickettsial infections. The total sample size was 580 persons. A standard questionnaire was performed by a face to face interview with participants. The 0-4 age group children were not included. The presence of anti-Rickettsia IgG antibodies was tested in blood samples with Indirect Immunoflourescein Antibody (IFA) method.Results: Spotted fever group anti-Rickettsia IgG antibody seropositivity was detected in 68 (11.7%) blood samples. Contrarily, typhus group anti-Rickettsia IgG antibody seropositivity was not found in any participant. With bivariate analyses following variables were found to be significantly correlated with rickettsia seropositivity: education status (p=0.015), age (p=0.001), working in farm (p=0.008), working in garden (p=0.022), agricultural activities (p=0.001), being interested in relaxation activity (p=0.009), animal breeding (p=0.007), milking (p=0.001) and exposure to wild animals (p=0.004). With logistic regression analysis; age [Risk Odds Ratio ‘ROR’=1.03 (95% GA=1.02-1.05)] and exposure to wild animals [ROR=1.97 (95% GA=1.12-3.46)] were found to be associated with increased seropositivity.Conclusions: Our results supported the existence of rickettsial diseases in Turkey. Further seroepidemiological investigations are needed to detect incidence/prevalences of rickettsioses and related risky behaviors in our country.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Rickettsia , seropozitivity , spotted fever , typhus
