Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41238141›Full record

ArticleTravel medicine and infectious disease

Probable scrub typhus-like infection in Colombia: seroconversion and serological reactivity to Orientia spp. among patients with acute undifferentiated febrile illness in Villeta municipality.

Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos, Nicole L Mendell, Patricia A Crocquet-Valdes, Peter C Melby, Patricia V Aguilar, Miguel M Cabada, Marylin Hidalgo, David H Walker

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Travel medicine and infectious disease. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Carlos Ramiro Silva-RamosGrupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States. Electronic address: cramiro-silva@javeriana.edu.co.
Nicole L MendellDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Patricia A Crocquet-ValdesDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Peter C MelbyDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Patricia V AguilarDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Miguel M CabadaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States.
Marylin HidalgoGrupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
David H WalkerDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States. Electronic address: dwalker@utmb.edu.

Funding

Research Training Program on the Impact of Zoonotic and Vector-borne Viruses, Rickettsiae, and Leptospira in Acute Undifferentiated Febrile IllnessesD43TW010331 · FIC · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · PI AGUILAR, PATRICIA VERONICA, RODAS, JUAN DAVID · 2016 to 2025
$2.6M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW010331
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScrub typhus, caused by Orientia spp., is a mite-borne disease historically restricted to the Asia-Pacific region. Autochthonous cases have been confirmed in southern Chile, while serological evidence has been reported in Peru, Honduras and Colombia, suggesting wider distribution in Latin America. Identifying recent exposure among febrile patients is essential to evaluate its role in acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) etiology.

aimTo assess the possible implication of Orientia infection as a cause of AUFI in Villeta, Colombia.

methodsBetween September and December 2021, patients with AUFI were recruited. Whole-blood samples were tested for Orientia DNA by real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Acute and convalescent serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies by IFA and ELISA, with paired samples titration to assess seroconversion. Reactive sera were further confirmed by Western blot.

resultsForty-one acute whole-blood samples were tested by qPCR; no Orientia DNA was detected. Serology identified antibodies in 27 % (11/41) of patients: six positive by ELISA, two by IFA, and three by both methods. Based on paired sera, eight cases (20 %) were classified as recent infections, including cases of seroconversion, and three (7 %) as previous exposures. Western blot confirmed specific reactivity against Orientia antigens in all positive samples.

conclusionsThis study provides serological evidence of Orientia circulation among febrile patients in Villeta, Colombia, including clear cases of seroconversion. Western blot validated reactivity against immunodominant proteins. Findings suggest a local scrub typhus-like illness and highlight the need for pathogen isolation and genetic characterization to clarify its contribution to AUFI.

Indexed as

FeverOrientia tsutsugamushiScrub TyphusAdolescentAdultAgedAntibodies, BacterialColombiaFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GMaleMiddle AgedSeroconversionYoung AdultAntibodies, BacterialImmunoglobulin GColombiaFebrile illnessLatin AmericaOrientiaScrub typhusSeroconversion

Identifiers

PMID41238141
PMCPMC12756907

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.