INVESTIGATION OF RICKETTSIA-CONORII ANTIBODIES IN THE ANTALYA AREA

Mediterranean spotted fever, caused by Rickettsia conorii, is a tick-b orne infection. Serum samples for screening R. conorii antibodies of p rofessionally exposed persons in the Antalya region, on the Mediterran ean coast of Turkey, were analyzed. R. conorii IgG antibodies were det ected in 13 of 98 (13.3%) serum samples. Mediterranean spotted fever a ntibodies were found to be positive in 9.4% of the men and 15.2% of th e women (a total of 13 cases). Only three cases had a history of fever and rash.