Detection of antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis antigens in sera of Korean patients by western immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence assays.
Two hundred seventy one serum samples from South Korean patients were tested to detect antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum (the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent) and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (the human monocytic ehrlichiosis agent) by indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) and the Western blot assay. These sera were collected from patients with symptoms of high fever. The rate of seropositivity for Orientia tsutsugamushi was 50.9% by IFA at the Public Health & Environmental Research Institute and National Institute of Health in South Korea. By IFA, 30 (11.1%) and 39 (14.4%) of the serum samples reacted with A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis antigens, respectively. By the Western blot assays, 24 (8.9%) and 29 (10.7%) of the serum samples reacted with purified A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis protein antigens, respectively. This report strengthens other evidence regarding the presence of A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis infections in humans in South Korea.
Park
Jin-Ho
JH
Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Heo
Eun-Jeong
EJ
Choi
Kyoung-Seong
KS
Dumler
J Stephen
JS
Chae
Joon-Seok
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial