ERADICATION OF RICKETTSIA-TSUTSUGAMUSHI FROM PATIENTS BLOOD BY CHEMOTHERAPY, AS ASSESSED BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

The presence of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi DNA in peripheral blood monon uclear cells of eight patients with tsutsugamushi disease was determin ed by the polymerase chain reaction during antibiotic treatment with m inocycline or doxycycline. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi DNA was detectable in all samples from these patients collected the day before treatment began. After the initiation of chemotherapy, all samples tested posit ive on the third or fourth day, and one sample tested positive on the eighth day, showing a slow action of the drugs against the rickettsia within cells. Immune responses against R. tsutsugamushi also seemed to be important for eradication of the pathogens, as suggested by patien ts' high antibody titers.