Mathews Karen O, Phalen David, Norris Jacqueline M, Stenos John, Toribio Jenny-Ann, Wood Nicholas, Graves Stephen, Sheehy Paul A, Nguyen Chelsea, Bosward Katrina L
Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Pathogens. 2021 Jun 12;10(6):745. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10060745.
Rickettsioses are arthropod-borne zoonotic diseases, several of which occur in Australia. This study aimed to assess the exposure levels and risk factors for spp. among Australian wildlife rehabilitators (AWRs) using serology, PCR and a questionnaire. Antibody titres against Spotted Fever Group (SFG), Typhus Group (TG) and Scrub Typhus Group (STG) antigens were determined using an immunofluorescence assay. PCR targeting the gene was performed on DNA extracts from whole blood and serum. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity. Of the 27 (22.1%; 27/122) seropositive participants all were seropositive for SFG, with 5/27 (4.1%) also positive for TG. Of the 27 positive sera, 14.8% (4/27) were further classified as exposure to , 3.7% (1/27) to , 3.7% (1/27) to and 77.8% (21/27) were classified as 'indeterminate'-most of which (85.7%; 18/21) were indeterminate / exposures. Rickettsia DNA was not detected in whole blood or serum. Rehabilitators were more likely to be seropositive if more than one household member rehabilitated wildlife, were older than 50 years or had occupational animal contact. These findings suggest that AWRs are at increased risk of contracting -related illnesses, however the source of the increased seropositivity remains unclear.
立克次氏体病是由节肢动物传播的人畜共患病，其中几种在澳大利亚有发生。本研究旨在通过血清学、聚合酶链反应（PCR）和问卷调查评估澳大利亚野生动物康复工作者（AWRs）中 立克次氏体属物种的暴露水平和风险因素。使用免疫荧光测定法测定针对斑点热群（SFG）、斑疹伤寒群（TG）和恙虫病群（STG）抗原的抗体滴度。对全血和血清的DNA提取物进行针对 基因的PCR。采用逻辑回归分析来确定与血清学阳性相关的风险因素。在27名（22.1%；27/122）血清学阳性参与者中，所有参与者SFG血清学均为阳性，其中5/27（4.1%）TG也呈阳性。在27份阳性血清中，14.8%（4/27）被进一步分类为暴露于 立克次氏体，3.7%（1/27）为暴露于恙虫病东方体立克次氏体，3.7%（1/27）为暴露于西伯利亚立克次氏体，77.8%（21/27）被分类为“不确定”——其中大多数（85.7%；18/21）为不确定/ 立克次氏体暴露。在全血或血清中未检测到立克次氏体DNA。如果一个以上家庭成员从事野生动物康复工作、年龄超过50岁或有职业性动物接触，康复工作者血清学阳性可能性更大。这些发现表明，AWRs感染与立克次氏体相关疾病的风险增加，然而血清学阳性率增加的来源仍不清楚。
