Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 53, 162-163, 2000

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Original Article

Prevalence of Spotted Fever Rickettsial Antibodies in Dogs and Rodents in the Philippines

Gerry Amar Camer, Joseph Masangkay¹, Hiroshi Satoh², Tamaki Okabayashi², Shuu Norizuki², Yurie Motoi², Hiroshi Ueno² and Chiharu Morita^2*

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman, Northern Samar, ¹College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines-Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines and ²School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Hokkaido, Japan.

(Received June 30, 2000. Accepted September 7, 2000)

SUMMARY: Antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae have been detected in blood samples of dogs and rodents obtained from selected areas in the Philippines. In this serosurvey, the positive percentage rates are 8.3% (11/132) in dogs and 12.2% (6/49) in rats. Positive results were read from samples tested with Rickettsia japonica antigen. No positive result was obtained in blood samples of rats and house mice using R. akari antigen. The findings of this study are the first to confirm the detection of spotted fever group rickettsial antibodies in the Philippines.

*Corresponding author: Fax: +81-11-387-5890, E-mail: c-mrt@rakuno.ac.jp

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