Cross-reaction of immune sera from patients with rickettsial diseases.
Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia conorii are the causative agents of two common and serious diseases, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediterranean spotted fever, respectively. In patients naturally infected with either of these organisms, antibodies are produced which cross-react with antigens of the other so extensively that diagnostic tests usually cannot identify the causative agents. The results of this study indicate that serodiagnostic tests with antigen from one of these two organisms could be used to detect antibodies in patients with either of the two rickettsial diseases.
Hechemy
K E
KE
Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201-0509.
Raoult
D
D
Fox
J
J
Han
Y
Y
Elliott
L B
LB
Rawlings
J
J
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology*; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii / Q000276:immunology*; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera