title: Comparison of immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and cross-adsorption assays for diagnosis of African tick bite fever.
abstract: In testing paired serum samples from 40 consecutive cases of African tick bite fever, we detected diagnostic antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae in 45% of the patients by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and in 100% of the patients by Western blotting (WB) (P < 0.01). A specific diagnosis of Rickettsia africae infection could be established in 15% of the patients by IFA and in 73% of the patients by a combination of WB and cross-adsorption assays (P < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. mogens.jensenius@ioks.uio.no
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jensenius
authors.forename: Pierre-Edouard
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vene
authors.forename: Signe Holta
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ringertz
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Myrvang
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology