Abstract
In 2015, we investigated Bartonella quintana and typhus group rickettsiae in body lice from homeless persons in Bogotá, Colombia. We found B. quintana–infected body lice and seroprevalence of this microorganism in 19% of homeless persons and typhus group rickettsiae in 56%. Public health professionals should start preemptive measures and active vector control.
Highlights
In 2015, we investigated Bartonella quintana and typhus group rickettsiae in body lice from homeless persons in Bogotá, Colombia
The rate of body louse infestation in the studied population (11.7%) was within the range reported elsewhere (7%– 30%) [1,7], confirming that homeless persons are among the population groups most vulnerable to parasitism by this arthropod and associated infectious agents [1]
Cross-reactions in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) between different Bartonella species are possible [8,9], we consider that the seroprevalence detected in homeless persons in Bogotá probably is due to B. quintana because it is the microorganism most frequently associated with homeless persons [1], and we detected it in 28.2% of body lice collected from persons sampled, again in agreement with previous studies (1.4%–94%) [10]
Summary
In 2015, we investigated Bartonella quintana and typhus group rickettsiae in body lice from homeless persons in Bogotá, Colombia. During May–September 2015, we enrolled a total of 153 persons from a homeless shelter in Bogotá in the study and obtained serum samples from each person. For identification of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. from louse samples, we organized 201 body lice into 39 pools and extracted DNA from each pool (DNeasy Blood and Tissue; QIAGEN, Valencia, CA, USA).
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