Abstract

ORTIZ, Jully et al. Seroprevalence of Rickettsia sp. in indigenous Wayuü of La Guajira and Kankuamos of Cesar, Colombia . Infect. [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.1, pp.18-23. ISSN 0123-9392.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infect.2014.11.003.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of Rickettsia sp. of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) in indigenous Wayuu (La Guajira) and Kankuamos (Cesar), Colombia. Materials and methods: Between August 2012 and May 2013 a descriptive, prospective, crosssectional study was carried out. Sera from Wayuu (n = 171) and Kankuamos (n = 167) indigenous populations were collected. To determine Rickettsia sp., the samples were analyzed by IFI. Results: The Wayuu population showed a seroprevalence of 11% and Kankuama 32%. Most seropositives were women, 89% and 65% in the Wayuu and Kankuama populations respectively. In both indigenous populations, a seropositivity of 34% (25/73) in housewives was obtained. The highest percentage, 58% (11/19) of seropositives in the Wayuu population were distributed in neighborhoods of Maicao and 42% (8/19) were in nearby small rural settlements. The Kankuama seropositive population was distributed as follows: 52% (28/54) in Atánquez, 32% (17/54) in Valledupar, 9% (5/54) in La Mina and 7% (4/54) in Pontoon. The presence of ticks in the Wayuu population was reported in 42% and Kankuamos in 96% Conclusion: This is the first study on seroprevalence of Rickettsia in indigenous populations of the departments of La Guajira and Cesar. The results indicate a high seroprevalence in the Kankuama population and a moderate seroprevalence in the Wayuu. These data can be important for surveillance and control programs of febrile syndromes.

Keywords : Rickettsia; Seroprevalence; Indigenous populations; Tick-borne diseases; Zoonoses; Colombia.

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