Could the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Cause an Increase in Rickettsia Infection? North Cyprus Observation

Year 2022, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 314 - 319, 31.05.2022

Meryem Güvenir , Emrah Güler , Kaya Süer

https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.1082154

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence rate of the Rickettsiae infection during the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic according to years.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during 2016 to 2020. Weil-Felix test is based on cross-reactions which occur between antibodies produced in acute rickettsial infections with antigens of OX (OX 19, OX 2, and OXK) strains of Proteus species. On a lam surface, a small 100 μL of the patient’s serum is placed. A single drop of the desired antigen (OX19, OX2 ve OXK) is added, and the resulting suspension is mixed and then rotated for one minute. Visible agglutination is indicative of a positive result and corresponds roughly to a titer of 1:20. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was conducted with SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Demo Ver 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) program.
Results: Total patient number were 369 (Male: 192, 52%; Female: 177, 48%) and the mean age was 33.40±21.37. The number of patients who found as positive for any of the Rickettsiae infection (OX19, OX2 and OXK) were 15.4% in 2016; 21.1% in 2017; 22.9% in 2018 %; 23% in 2019 and 37.3% in 2020. It has been observed that OX19 and OX2 positivity has increased significantly over the years. It is seen that the Proteus OX19 positive cases in 2020 are significantly higher than in other years (p=0.026). It is found that the positive cases of OX2 positivity in 2020 are significantly higher than in other years (p=0.036). Additionaly, considering the distribution over the years, it was seen that Rickettsiae positive patients increased significantly between 2016 and 2020 (p=0.017). Additionaly, considering the distribution over the years, it was seen that Rickettsiae positive patients increased significantly between 2016 and 2020 (p=0.017).
Conclusion: Our hypothesis is the because of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic due to the people staying at home the animal population such as rodents’ population caused an increase. Therefore, the increase in zoonotic infections should not be ignored and it should not be forgotten that necessary precautions should be taken to prevent these infections from getting out of control.

Keywords

Rickettsiae, SARS-CoV-2, North Cyprus

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