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

Original Article

Prevalence of Spotted Fever Rickettsial Antibodies in Dogs
and Rodents in the PhilipplneS
Gerry Amar Camer, Joseph Masangkayl , Hiroshi Satoh2, Tamaki Okabayashi2,Shuu Norizuki2, Yurie Motoi2, Hiroshi Ueno2 and Chiham Morita2*
College of Veterinary Medicine, UniversiO'ofEastern PhilippinFs･ Calarman･ Northern Samar,lcollege of Veterinary Medicine. Universityofthe PhilljplneS‑Los Banos, College,Laguna 4031, Philljpines and2school of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen Universi砂,Ebetsu 069‑8501, Hokkaido, Japan(Received June 30, 2000. Accepted September 7, 2000)

SUMMARY: Antibodies against spotted fever grouprickettsiae have been detected in blood samples of dogs
and rodents obtained from selected areas in the PhilipplneS. In this serosurvey, the positive percentage rates are

8.3% (1 1/132) 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 housemice uslng R･ akari antlgen･
The findings of this study are the first to confirm the detection of spotted fever group rickettsial antibodies in thePhilipplneS.

of Virology, Chiba Prefectural Public Health Laboratory,INTRODUCTIONChiゎa) which were maintained in Vero‑E6 cells. Similar

Spotted fever rickettsiosis has been regarded historicany

procedures of indirect immunofluorescent antibody testlng

as an a血ropod‑bone disease of North and South America

as やescribed by Morita et al･ (4‑6) was utilized in this study･

until Japanese researchers first isolated Rickettsiajaponica,

distinct from other SFGR, and thus the disease caused byA 2‑fold dilution of each serum was added to individual
antigensand was incubated for 45 min at 37oC. ARer washing,fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated anti‑rat IgG goat
serum (Organon Teknika Corp., Durham, N.C., USA) was

this newcomer was officially named Japanese spotted fever

added. Slides were incubated, washed, and examined under(2,3)･ Serological surveys after its initial isolation in Jap.an

a nuorescent microscope. Antibody titer equal to or above 64

a new member of the spotted fever grouprickettsiae (SFGR),in 1984 (1). This organism was fわund to be antigeniticallyhave been extended to other neighboring Asian countrleSinc)uding Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand where antibodies
agalnSt SFGR among rodents in those countries have been(≧ 1:64) was read as positive.

RESUIiTS

detected (4‑6). This study was therefore undertaken to

documentthe occurrence of SFGRinthe Philippmes. Potential

The Figure shows the map of the PhilipplneS and the areas

mammahan vectors including those of dogs, rats, and mice

where blood samples were obtained. The samples were taken

were sampled in order to detect the presence of antibodies

in selected areas of Luzon, Samar, and Mindanao islands.

agalnSt SFGR pa仇ogens.

Outlined in the Table are the species sampled, the samplingsites, and the number and percentage positive for SFGR.
Shown in the Table are the positive percentage figures of

A4ATERIALS AND METHODS

antibody titer readings equal to or above 64 ( ≧ 1:64) as

Two‑hundred‑and‑twenty‑eight (228) blood samples fromobserved in samples from dogs and rats. These positive

dogs and rodents (132 dogs; 47 mice, Mus musculus; 49 rats,results were obtained uslng R. japonica antlgen. Antibodies

Rattus rattus epp･) Were obtained from selected areas in theagainst R. akari were not detected in the blood samples ofPhilipplneSuslng 'blood sampling filter paper '(Toyo‑Roshi,themice and rats examined. Ofthe three species ofmammals

Tokyo) On which approximately 100 LLl of blood wasallowed
to absorb and dry. After drying, the blood was eluted in 0.6
ml phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7･5; Nissui Pharma‑
ceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo). After the blood absorbing areas of

examined, all orthe mice blood samples yielded a negative
antibody tiモer reading agalnSt the two antigens used. The

overall positive rates were 8.3% (1 1/132) in dogs and 12.2%(6/49) in rats.

the filter‑paper was cut into several parts, the sample wassoaked in 600 LEI PBS. This eluted serum was examined at aDISCUSSION

1 6‑fold dilution. R.japonicaantigens were used in this study,
and were prepared kom Vero‑E6 cclls infected with YH strain

The data gathered in this study confirmed the presence ofofR.japonica (provided by Prof. T. Uchida of the Department

spotted fever grouprickettsial antibodies in the blood of dogsof Virology, School of Medicine, Tokushima University,Tokushima) and R. akari (provided by Dr. Kaiho, Deparhent

and rats in the PhilipplneS. Whether these species of dogs
and rats serve as the mammalian reservoir of SFGR remains
to be ascertained, as current proof of interisland variabilities*Corresponding author: Fax: +81 ‑1 1‑387‑5890, E‑mail: C‑mrt@

in the positive detection of antibodies poses a question as toits natural vector or host in the country. Onlyantibodies against

rakuno. ac.Jp162

Table. Seroprevalence ofR.japonL'ca antibodies in dogsand rodents in selected islandsin the PhilipplneS

Locationorsamples

lectedcolAnimals

Dogs

Samar lsland2

Total(%)

Total (%)

Rats

5Luzon lslandl 1 1/814

Mindanao lsland3

Mice

0/39

11/81

0/47

6/49

6/135 ( 4.4)

0/47 (0.0)

6/49 (12.2)

0/12( 0.0)

0/1 2

1 I/132 (83)(13.5)

17/228 ( 7.5)

1.23 Blood samples were collected from Luzon (Manila and Laguna), from Samar (Northem,Westem and Eastem), and from Mindanao (Cotabato) Islands.
4Numerators and denominators indicate numbers of antibody‑positive samples and totalnumber
or samples examined, respectively.

51 means nO Sample was obtained.

the affected mammalian species invite further in‑depth studies
now that the actual arthropod vector in each locale in thePhilipplneS has been incriminated. Thus the issues presented
in this survey could be complemented with further investiga‑tion.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks are due to Drs. Noel L.Jarito (UniversityofEastem Phillipines [UEP】, Northem Samar), Ma Leila Flor?S‑Santiago (College of Veterinary Medicine lCVM] , Umiverslty
or the Philippines‑Lo§ Ban°s), Josephin Flores (MSU,Mindanao), Gerome C. Dacut, Rico A. Espina, and veterinary
students orUEP‑CVM who assisted the authors in blood
sample collection.
This work was supported in part by a grant‑in‑aid fわr

Scientific Research (no. 10660304) from the Ministry ofEducation, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan, a scientific

grant‑aid from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan,and Research Fellowships of血e Japan Society fbr仇e Promo‑tion of Science for Young Scientists (no. 04878). Special
thanks are due to the Japan Health Science Foundation which
provided travel 8mancial assistance fわr this research.

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Figure. Map orthe Philippines showing the sampling sites (in shadedareas).

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