Seroprevalence of Seven Zoonotic Pathogens in Pregnant Women from the Caribbean |
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| Authors: | Heidi Wood Michael A. Drebot Eric Dewailly Liz Dillon Kristina Dimitrova Martin Forde Allen Grolla Elise Lee Amanda Loftis Kai Makowski Karen Morrison Lyndon Robertson Rosina C. Krecek |
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| Affiliation: | National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; University of Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; St. George''s University, St. George''s, Grenada; Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts; Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; Caribbean EcoHealth Programme, St. George''s, Grenada |
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| Abstract: | Studies examining the prevalence of zoonotic agents in the Caribbean are very limited. The objective of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of seven zoonotic agents among individuals residing on 10 English-speaking Caribbean countries. Sera from healthy, pregnant women were collected from Antigua-Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent-Grenadines and tested for the presence of IgG antibodies to dengue virus, hepatitis E virus, hantaviruses, leptospiral agents, spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR), typhus group rickettsiae (TGR), and Coxiella burnetii (Q fever). The highest seroprevalence values were observed for dengue virus, SFGR, and leptospirosis, although the lowest seroprevalence values were observed for hepatitis E virus, C. burnetii, and TGR. Antibodies to hantaviruses were not detected in any individuals. |
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