Epidemiological study of rickettsial infections in patients with hypertransaminemia in Madrid (Spain)

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2009-10, Vol.6 (10), p.2526-2533
• Main Authors: Lledó, Lourdes, González, Rosario, Gegúndez, María Isabel, Beltrán, María, Saz, José Vicente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Bacteria; Case-Control Studies; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - epidemiology; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Epidemiologic Studies; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Infant; Infections; Liver - enzymology; Liver diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Rickettsia conorii - immunology; Rickettsia Infections - enzymology; Rickettsia Infections - epidemiology; Rickettsia Infections - immunology; Rickettsia typhi - immunology; Risk Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph6102526

A retrospective analysis was performed to detect anti-rickettsial antibodies in the serum of patients with hypertransaminemia of unknown etiology, and in that of healthy members of the general population of Madrid (Spain). Among 143 patients 16 (11.2%) were positive for anti-R. conorii IgG antibodies and 7% for R. typhi. PCR analysis was performed in patients with IgM antibodies. Among 143 healthy subjects from the general population, seven (4.9%) were positive for anti-R. conorii IgG antibodies, and 2.8% for R. typhi. These results show that anti-rickettsial antibodies are more commonly detected in patients with hypertransaminemia than in healthy people.