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Seroepidemiologic Study of Human Infections with Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in North Carolina

Authors :
Vaughn, Meagan F.
Delisle, Josie
Johnson, Joey
Daves, Gaylen
Williams, Carl
Reber, Jodi
Mendell, Nicole L.
Bouyer, Donald H.
Nicholson, William L.
Moncayo, Abelardo C.
Meshnick, Steven R.
Source :
Journal of Clinical Microbiology; November 2014, Vol. 52 Issue: 11 p3960-3966, 7p
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

ABSTRACTIncreasing entomologic and epidemiologic evidence suggests that spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) other than Rickettsia rickettsiiare responsible for spotted fever rickettsioses in the United States. A retrospective seroepidemiologic study was conducted on stored acute- and convalescent-phase sera that had been submitted for Rocky Mountain spotted fever testing to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. We evaluated the serologic reactivity of the paired sera to R. rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, and Rickettsia amblyommiiantigens. Of the 106 eligible pairs tested, 21 patients seroconverted to one or more antigens. Cross-reactivity to multiple antigens was observed in 10 patients, and seroconversions to single antigens occurred in 11 patients, including 1 against R. rickettsii, 4 against R. parkeri, and 6 against R. amblyommii. Cross-absorption of cross-reactive sera and/or Western blots identified two presumptive cases of infection with R. parkeri, two presumptive cases of infection with R. rickettsii, and one presumptive case of infection with R. amblyommii. These findings suggest that species of SFGR other than R. rickettsiiare associated with illness among North Carolina residents and that serologic testing using R. rickettsiiantigen may miss cases of spotted fever rickettsioses caused by other species of SFGR.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00951137 and 1098660X
Volume :
52
Issue :
11
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs34013416
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01733-14