Serosurvey of wild rodents for Rickettsioses (spotted fever, murine typhusand Q fever) in Java Island, Indonesia

The prevalence of antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR), murine typhus and Q fever were investigated in wild rats captured in Indon esia. Sera of 327 rats were collected from Jakarta and Boyolali on Java Isl and. The prevalences of antibodies against SFGR and murine typhus were 128 (39.1%) and 48 (14.7%), respectively. Antibodies against Q fever were not d etected in these serum samples. Antibodies against SFGR were found in all s pecies of rats (20.8-51.9%). The antibody positive rate against murine typh us in Rattus norvegicus (38.0%) was significantly higher than that in other rat species (0-4.8%, p < 0.01). The antibody positive rates against SFGR a nd murine typhus in rats captured in Jakarta were significantly higher than those in rats captured in Boyolali (p < 0.01). In this survey, all species of rats had antibodies against SFGR, indicating that the 4 species of test ed rats (R. norvegicus, R, rattus, R. exulans, R. tiomanicus) were infected with SFGR and that SFGR may infest the whole of Java Island. Most of the r ats that were antibody-positive against murine typhus were captured in Jaka rta. Therefore, R. norvegicus and R. rattus are likely to be important host s of murine typhus in Jakarta. The antibody-positive rates against SFGR and murine typhus in rats captured in the dry season were significantly higher than those in rats captured in the rainy season. This may coincide with th e active periods of ticks and fleas in Indonesia.