Evidence of typhus infection in domestic animals in Egypt.

Previous work suggested that domestic animals could act as a reservoir of epidemic typhus. To test this hypothesis, sera from buffaloes, camels, donkeys, goats, pigs and sheep in different parts of Egypt were submitted to the complement-fixation test, using the common soluble typhus antigen. The highest percentage of positive results was obtained with camel and donkey sera and the positivity rate was higher towards the end of the year than in June and July. Animals from the Western Desert area were more frequently positive than those from other regions. Attempts to isolate rickettsiae by intraperitoneal injection of guinea-pigs resulted in some febrile reactions, but so far no rickettsiae have been isolated.