title: Comparative Evaluation of Serological and Molecular Methods for the Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus in Indian Settings.
abstract: The major brunt of scrub typhus is borne by developing countries like India but the disease remains neglected. The rapid progression of this infection to serious complications and associated mortality calls for improved diagnostics. The immunoglobulin (Ig)M immunofluorescence assay (IFA), with all of its limitations remains the gold standard. Of 218 suspected cases from patients enrolled in a 2-year study, 30 cases of scrub typhus were detected by IgM IFA, using a 1:64 dilution. The sensitivities of the IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IgM rapid flow assay (RFA), and IgG RFA were found to be 97%, 87%, and 77%, respectively. Their respective specificities were 100%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of a nested PCR assay targeting a gene encoding a 56-kDa protein were found to be 50% and 100%, respectively.
authors: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
authors: Nitin
authors: N
authors: Gupta
authors: Rama
authors: R
authors: Chaudhry
authors: Sushil K
authors: SK
authors: Kabra
authors: Rakesh
authors: R
authors: Lodha
authors: Bijay Ranjan
authors: BR
authors: Mirdha
authors: Bimal Kumar
authors: BK
authors: Das
authors: Aparajit Ballay
authors: AB
authors: Dey
authors: Vishnubhatla
authors: V
authors: Sreenivas
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007194:India; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M