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. 2024 Aug 16;230(2):319-322.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae028.

Changes in the Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Rickettsia and Ehrlichia Among Soldiers-Fort Liberty, North Carolina, 1991-2019

Emmanuel M Rockwell  1 , Haley A Abernathy  2 , Lanya M Evans  3 , Ryan Bhowmik  3 , Dana A Giandomenico  3 , Johanna S Salzer  4 , Carlos J Maldonado  5 , Y Sammy Choi  5 , Ross M Boyce  2   3   6
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Changes in the Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Rickettsia and Ehrlichia Among Soldiers-Fort Liberty, North Carolina, 1991-2019

Emmanuel M Rockwell et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

We obtained samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository from soldiers who were stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, between 1991 and 2019 to assess temporal trends in tick-borne rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis. Serological evidence of infection was common, with nearly 1 in 5 (18.9%) demonstrating antibodies. We observed significant decreases in Rickettsia seroprevalence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.42 [95% CI, .27-.65], P = .0001) while over the same period Ehrlichia seroprevalence, albeit less common, nearly doubled (aOR, 3.61 [95% CI, 1.10-13.99], P = .048). The increase in Ehrlichia seroprevalence likely reflects increased transmission resulting from the expanding geographic range of the lone star tick.

Keywords: Ehrlichia; Rickettsia; seroprevalence; surveillance; ticks.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. The authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest.

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