Relevance of Weil-Felix test in diagnosis of scrub typhus in India.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship of Weil-Felix test and microimmunofluorescence test.


METHODS
Sera of 21 patients with clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus were subjected to Weil-Felix and Microimmunofluorescence tests.


RESULTS
On Weil-Felix test, 13 (62%) sera showed titers 1: > or = 40-320. 7 patients showed titers 1: > or = 320, 3 showed titers 1 : 160, 2 showed titers 1 : 80 and 1 patients showed titers 1 : 40, to Proteus OXK antigen. All 21 sera showed significant titers to O. tsutsugamushi on microimmunofluorescence.


CONCLUSIONS
Weil-Felix test is not a very sensitive test in diagnosis of scrub typhus but due to of lack of availability of definitive tests in India it canbe a useful tool when used and interpreted in the correct clinical context.
Mahajan
S K
SK
Department of Medicine, I.G. Medical College, Shimla, (H P).
Kashyap
R
R
Kanga
A
A
Sharma
V
V
Prasher
B S
BS
Pal
L S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial