Study investigates spotted fever group rickettsioses in Laotian pets and owners

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Serological evidence of spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGRs) and interactions between pets and their owners in Laos have rarely been reported. The authors of this article conducted a cross-sectional study to describe SFGR exposure risk and seroprevalence among companion animals and owners.

Blood samples from 295 pet owners and their pets (270 dogs and 25 cats) were screened for IgG against SFGRs. Risk exposure to pathogens was assessed with clinical record forms and pet-owner interaction questionnaires.

The SFGR seropositivity rate among pet owners was 1.4%. Low-level SFGR antibody reactivity was detected in three cats (12%), whereas no dogs tested positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed low levels of immuno globulin G (IgG), with titers ranging from 1:4 to 1:16 in pet owners and as high as 1:64 in pets. No significant correlation was observed between seropositivity in pets and pet owners (p>0.05) or between participants with versus without ectoparasites on their pets (odds ratio 1.00, 95% CI 0.15-6.55, p=0.99).

This study identified low-level serological reactivity to SFGR antigens in a small number of cats and pet owners. These findings might suggest possible previous exposure but should be interpreted cautiously, because the antibody titers were low, and the serological assay has not been validated for canine and feline sera.