Rickettsiosis and Q fever in pyretic patients hospitalized at the Bobo- Dioulasso Hospital (Burkina Faso)

Objective - Rickettsiosis is a frequent and well distributed disease in developing countries. A prospective study was made from January to March 1995 to assess the frequency of Rickettsia infection in febrile patients hospitalized at the Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital. Results - One hundred eighty- three patients including 102 children and 81 adults were enrolled. Indirect immunofluorescence showed a global rickettsial prevalence of 45.3%. Rickettsia conorii, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia typhi were diagnosed in 35%, 13.1%, and 10.9% of patients, respectively. Mediterranean spotted fever is rare and symptomatic cases come from suburban areas. Murine typhus is frequent in peripheral areas, the clinical features are classical, and evolution is simple. Q fever reaches its maximum prevalence in 30- to 60- year-old patients. Respiratory tract involvement is found in 55% of the cases and biological hepatitis in 75%. Comments - This study determines the prevalence of R. conorii, C. burnetii, and R. typhi infection in the Bobo- Dioulasso area. Field-based studies should be carried out in order to identify epidemiologic factors. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.