title: Lateral Flow Rapid Test for Accurate and Early Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus: A Febrile Illness of Historically Military Importance in the Pacific Rim.
abstract: Scrub typhus (ST) is an infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Historically, ST was ranked as the second most important arthropod-borne medical problem only behind malaria during World War II and the Vietnam War. The disease occurs mainly in Southeast Asia and has been shown to emerge and reemerge in new areas, implying the increased risk for U.S. military and civilian personnel deployed to these regions. ST can effectively be treated by doxycycline provided the diagnosis is made early, before the development of severe complications. Scrub Typhus Detect is a lateral flow rapid test based on a mixture of recombinant 56-kDa antigens with broad reactivity. The performance of this prototype product was evaluated against indirect immunofluorescence assay, the serological gold standard. Using 249 prospectively collected samples from Thailand, the sensitivity and specificity for IgM was found to be 100% and 92%, respectively, suggesting a high potential of this product for clinical use. This product will provide a user friendly, rapid, and accurate diagnosis of ST for clinicians to provide timely and accurate treatments of deployed personnel.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Chien-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhangm
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weissenberger
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Hua-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Wei-Mei
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ching
mesh_terms: D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity