We assessed serum samples from 1,000 US Marines deployed to Afghanistan during 2001-2010 to find evidence of 4 rickettsial pathogens. Analysis of predeployment and postdeployment samples showed that 3.4% and 0.5% of the Marines seroconverted for the causative agents of Q fever and spotted fever group rickettsiosis, respectively.
Keywords: Afghanistan; Coxiella; Q fever; bacteria; deployment; gram-negative bacteria; military; rickettsia; rickettsial infections; rickettsiosis; seroconversion; zoonoses.