title: Diagnosis of rickettsial infections in Swedish patients: detection of specific IgM.
abstract: Since April 1986, microimmunofluorescence assays have been employed at the Department of Virology at the National Bacteriological Laboratory in Sweden to investigate the presence of specific IgM and IgG antibodies to C. burnetii and R. conorii in patient sera. A total of 111 patients with suspected rickettsial disease were investigated during the time period April 1986-November 1988. In 23 patients specific IgM was detected--in 9 to C. burnetii and in 14 to R. conorii. In thirteen of the IgM-positive patients a significant rise in specific IgG between acute and convalescent sera was also seen. All 23 patients had been travelling abroad prior to onset of disease. The microimmunofluorescence test was a simple and reliable tool in the detection of specific IgM for a rapid and accurate diagnosis of C. burnetii-and R. conorii-infections early in the course of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D003381:Coxiella / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M