A serological survey of rickettsial infections in the Gazelle Peninsula, East New Britain and a review of the literature.
- Author:
Antony G Faa
;
Stephen R Graves
;
Chelsea Nguyen
;
John Stenos
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Review [Publication Type];
rickettsial;
New;
TYPHUS;
Surveys
- From:
Papua and New Guinea medical journal
2006;49(1-2):43-6
- CountryPapua New Guinea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Of the various rickettsial diseases, only scrub typhus has been well documented in Papua New Guinea. A review of the historical literature confirms this. A serological survey was conducted on 113 antenatal patients presenting to a district hospital in Kokopo, East New Britain. Results suggested that a spotted fever rickettsial infection is common in this area with a seroprevalence of about 17% in young women. There was no evidence of scrub typhus or murine (endemic) typhus in the population sampled. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
