[Serological approach to the occurrence of rickettsioses in the Central African Republic].

A serosurvey for evidence of human rickettsial infections was carried out in the Republic of Central Africa on 144 sera by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and microagglutination tests (MA). There was no serological evidence of epidemic typhus and only two sera were positive for murine typhus. Approximately 15% of the surveyed population was serologically positive by MA for R. conorii antibodies. However, 48% of this population had spotted fever group antibodies as detected by IIF but were negative in MA for R. conorii, R. rickettsii and R. akari antibodies. These sera with high titers in IIF and negative in MA lead us to believe that in Central Africa there are rickettsiae pathogenic for man that are related to the Spotted Fever group and are yet to be identified.