Rickettsiae in Myanmar

Summary

Rickettsial infections have been found to be the second most common cause of non-malarial febrile illness in Southeast Asia, just after dengue, and are largely neglected treatable causes of morbidity and mortality. The rickettsiae can be divided into three major groups: the scrub typhus group (STG), the typhus group (TG) and the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsial infections typically present with an acute fever and are difficult to diagnose due to the many different causes of undifferentiated fever in Southeast Asia. Rickettsial IgG seroprevalence, reflecting past infection, will give an estimate of the burden of rickettsial infections in the population. Background seroprevalence studies in countries around Myanmar have found high rates of rickettsial infections. Yet, in Myanmar there have been no prevalence studies on rickettsial infections since the Second World War. We plan to determine IgG levels to the three different groups of rickettsial infections in leftover blood samples in several clinics and hospitals in different regions of Myanmar.

Conditions

• Rickettsiae Infections

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

MORU in-house ELISA test followed by IFA if positive

An in-house rickettsial IgG ELISA test will be used for this study to determine previous rickettsial infections by measuring IgG levels. All specimens will be tested for IgG antibodies using ELISA tests for scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi strains Karp, Kato, Gilliam and TA716), murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi strain type Wilmington), and spotted fever rickettsiosis (Rickettsia honei and Rickettsia conorii). If the sample tests positive, it will be retested for the same antigens using the IFA test. The sample will be considered positive if both the ELISA and the IFA are positive.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Health Laboratory, Myanmar

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Magway General Hospital, Magway

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Monywa Hospital, Sagaing

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Medicine, Magway

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

  collaborator OTHER

• Medical Action Myanmar

  collaborator OTHER

• Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Elizabeth Anne Ashley, Dr · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

• Stuart Blacksell, Prof · Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

• Philip Elders, MSc · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

• Wei Yan Aung Htay, Dr · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

• Yin Yin Htwe, Dr · National Health Laboratory, Myanmar

• Myat Myat Moe, Dr · Magway General Hospital, Magway

• Wai Mon Kyaw, Dr · Monywa Hospital, Sagaing

• Ni Ni Zaw, Dr · Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

• Win May Thein, Prof · Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

• Thin Thin Nwe, Prof · University of Medicine, Magway

• Kyaw Soe, BSc · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

• Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai, BSc · Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

• Ni Ni Tun, Dr · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit and Medical Action Myanmar

• Frank Smithuis, Prof · Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit and Medical Action Myanmar

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-06-20

Primary Completion

2019-10-25

Completion

2019-10-25

Countries

• Burma

Study Locations