Africa is known for t. whipplei because of its unsanitary practiced especially on regards to unclean drinking water where it's commonly found. There was a epidemic fever of this that spread throughout Senegal the whole village came down with it. Read the article tropheryma whipplei causes epidemic fever in Senegal I don't know what area you were in nut I do believe this stuff is prevalent everywhere there especially since people are spreading it wherever they go once they have it.