Rickettsia typhi infection in wild rodents from central Spain

When sera from 218 rodents captured in two provinces of central Spain were tested, by indirect immunofluorescence, for antibodies to Rickettsia typhi, 46 (21.1%) were found to be positive, at titres between 1:20 and 1:320. The seropositives included rodents of each of the five species collected: Mus musculus, Mus spretus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus. Rickettsia typhi infection appears to be common and widespread among the rodents of central Spain.