Common Epidemiology of Rickettsia felis Infection and Malaria, Africa

Mediannikov, Oleg; Socolovschi, Cristina; Edouard, Sophie; Fenollar, Florence; Mouffok, Nadjet; Bassene, Hubert; Diatta, Georges; Tall, Adama; Niangaly, Hamidou; Doumbo, Ogobara; Lekana-Douki, Jean Bernard; Znazen, Abir; Sarih, M’hammed; Ratmanov, Pavel; Richet, Herve; Ndiath, Mamadou O.; Sokhna, Cheikh; Parola, Philippe; Raoult, Didier

doi:10.3201/eid1911.130361

i

Common Epidemiology of Rickettsia felis Infection and Malaria, Africa

Supporting Files Public Domain

Nov 2013
By Mediannikov, Oleg ; Socolovschi, Cristina ; Edouard, Sophie
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1911.130361

File Language:

English

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Alternative Title:

Emerg Infect Dis
Personal Author:

Mediannikov, Oleg ; Socolovschi, Cristina ; Edouard, Sophie ; Fenollar, Florence ; Mouffok, Nadjet ; Bassene, Hubert ; Diatta, Georges ; Tall, Adama ; Niangaly, Hamidou ; Doumbo, Ogobara ; Lekana-Douki, Jean Bernard ; Znazen, Abir ; Sarih, M’hammed ; Ratmanov, Pavel ; Richet, Herve ; Ndiath, Mamadou O. ; Sokhna, Cheikh ; Parola, Philippe ; Raoult, Didier
Description:

This study aimed to compare the epidemiology of Rickettsia felis infection and malaria in France, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa and to identify a common vector. Blood specimens from 3,122 febrile patients and from 500 nonfebrile persons were analyzed for R. felis and Plasmodium spp. We observed a significant linear trend (p<0.0001) of increasing risk for R. felis infection. The risks were lowest in France, Tunisia, and Algeria (1%), and highest in rural Senegal (15%). Co-infections with R. felis and Plasmodium spp. and occurrences of R. felis relapses or reinfections were identified. This study demonstrates a correlation between malaria and R. felis infection regarding geographic distribution, seasonality, asymptomatic infections, and a potential vector. R. felis infection should be suspected in these geographical areas where malaria is endemic. Doxycycline chemoprophylaxis against malaria in travelers to sub-Saharan Africa also protects against rickettsioses; thus, empirical treatment strategies for febrile illness for travelers and residents in sub-Saharan Africa may require reevaluation.
Subjects:
Source:

Emerg Infect Dis. 19(11):1775-1783.
Document Type:

Journal Article
Place as Subject:

Africa ; Africa South of the Sahara ; Africa, Northern ; France
Volume:

19
Issue:

11
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20973/cdc_20973_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 549.16 KB]
Collection(s):

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:2b17fcdd523ce973e8e73a7582fd540b23ccc1fc0005b0eb5f92da04aef9b824

File Language:

English

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