title: Immunoblot cross-reactions among Rickettsia, Proteus spp. and Legionella spp. in patients with Mediterranean spotted fever.
abstract: Sera from patients suffering from Mediterranean spotted fever (i.e. an infection due to Rickettsia conorii) were studied by immunoblot to investigate cross-reactivity. A prevalence of IgM antibodies to Proteus OX 19, Proteus OX 2, to the Rickettsia typhus group, to Legionella pneumophila serovars 4 and 5, to L. bozemanii Wiga and to L. micdadei Tatlock was found. Western blot confirmed that the antibodies were directed against the lipopolysaccharide as demonstrated by proteinase K digestion of the antigens. Cross-adsorptions showed that there is a common cross-reacting epitope among L. bozemanii Wiga, R. typhi and Proteus OX 19 but cross-reacting antibodies to L. micdadei and OX 2 were distinct and independent. This IgM cross-reaction could lead to a misdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Unité des Rickettsies, Faculté de Médecine, CNRS EP J 0054, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dasch
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007875:Legionella / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D011511:Proteus / Q000276:immunology*; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides