Genotypic Identification of Murine Typhus Rickettsia in Rats and their Fleas in an Endemic Area of Greece by the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

Tselentis, Yannis; Psaroulaki, Anna; Maniatis, J; Spyridaki, Ioanna; Babalis, T.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1996.54.413

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The fact that 3 of the seropositive people lived in the same household and reported that rats were often found inside their home indicates that the spread of this pathogen is related to the presence of infected rats in the vicinity of the houses. In the island of Evia, Greece, the presence of R. typhi was demonstrated in Xenopsylla cheopis and in rat blood samples (Rattus norvegicus) by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis 21 in a field study followup of 49 human cases. 22 A similar study is now been carried out in Crete.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourteen-year seroepidemiological study of zoonoses in a Greek village.

Αντωνίου¹,

Economou²,

Wang³

et al. 2002

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. A seroepidemiological study carried out in a high-risk village in Crete in 1985-1987 and 1998 showed that although the awareness of the people concerning zoonoses had increased during this period, the situation did not improve: there was a significant increase of the spread of seroprevalence in time and space of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia typhi, Brucella sp., and Entamoeba histolytica. Toxoplasma gondii, Rickettsia conorii, Borrelia burgdorferi, Echinococcus granulosus, Leishmania sp., and Fasciola hepatica stayed at the same levels. This first study of Bartonella henselae in Crete showed that 15.9% of the children tested were seropositive. The results indicate that reservoirs and vectors of the pathogens studied are widespread in the environment, and the way of life of the people favors contact with them. Seven of 30 milk samples were positive for Brucella sp. by seminested polymerase chain reaction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourteen-year seroepidemiological study of zoonoses in a Greek village.

Αντωνίου¹,

Economou²,

Wang³

et al. 2002

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…6,7 As for Greece, rickettsiosis is thought to be one of the possible causes of the Athenian epidemic of 430-426 BC, which took place at the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War and caused the death of Pericles. 8 In recent years, seroepidemiological surveys conducted in the island of Crete (southern Greece), 9 the province of Fokida (central Greece), 10 and the province of Evia (central Greece) [11][12][13] revealed the presence of antibodies to R. conorii and R. typhi in the population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi infections in the population of northern Greece.

Daniel¹,

Manika²,

Arvanmdou³

et al. 2002

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Seroepidemical surveys concerning the prevalence of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi have never been studied in northern Greece. We examined 1,584 sera samples from residents of northern Greece for the detection of antibodies to R. conorii and to R. typhi by means of immunofluorescence assay. In addition, we compared the prevalence of rickettsial infections among the demographic variables of sex, age, occupation, and area of residence. Antibodies to R. conorii and R. typhi were found in 125 (7.9%) and 31 (2.0%) of the examined subjects, respectively. The prevalence of antibodies to R. conorii correlated with increasing age and was statistically higher in men. Farmers had significantly higher prevalence of antibodies to both species of rickettsiae studied versus other professions. Residents of rural areas showed a statistically higher prevalence for R. conorii versus urban residents, although this difference was not demonstrated for R. typhi. We also detected differences in the prevalence of rickettsial infections among the different prefectures. Our data show the wide distribution of R. conorii in northern Greece and indicate the presence of R. typhi.

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“…Murine typhus occurs worldwide, mainly in warm areas, particularly in port cities and coastal regions, where rodents are present. In Europe, this rickettsiosis is prevalent in Portugal, Spain (included the Canary Islands), and Greece 50–54 . In southern Spain, murine typhus is considered an important cause of fever of intermediate duration 51 .…”

Section: Flea‐borne Rickettsiosesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rickettsiosis in Europe

Blanco

Oteo

2006

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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In Europe, rickettsioses are long-known infectious diseases. Until recently, it was thought that Mediterranean spotted fever due to Rickettsia conorii was the only tick-borne rickettsiosis in Europe. In the last decade new Rickettsia spp. have been implicated in human pathology (R. slovaca, R. sibirica mongolotimonae, R. helvetica). Furthermore, cases of infection due to flea-borne rickettsioses (R. typhi, R. felis) have been described. Finally, although no outbreak of epidemic typhus has been reported yet in central and southern Europe, we should be aware of the possibility of reemergence of this disease in Europe. Other rickettsioses exist that have not yet been implicated in human pathology. We should consider that climate changes and other factors could contribute to the emergence and reemergence of other new diseases.

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Genotypic Identification of Murine Typhus Rickettsia in Rats and their Fleas in an Endemic Area of Greece by the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Fourteen-year seroepidemiological study of zoonoses in a Greek village.

Fourteen-year seroepidemiological study of zoonoses in a Greek village.

Prevalence of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi infections in the population of northern Greece.

Rickettsiosis in Europe

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