Investigation ofRickettsia conorii antibodies in the Antalya area

SummaryMediterranean spotted fever, caused byRickettsia conorii, is a tick-borne infection. Serum samples for screeningR. conorii antibodies of professionally exposed persons in the Antalya region, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, were analyzed.R. conorii IgG antibodies were detected in 13 of 98 (13.3%) serum samples. Mediterranean spotted fever antibodies were found to be positive in 9.4% of the men and 15.2% of the women (a total of 13 cases). Only three cases had a history of fever and rash.