Primary isolation of Ehrlichia chaffeensis from patients with febrile illnesses: Clinical and molecular characteristics

Citation
Sm. Standaert et al., Primary isolation of Ehrlichia chaffeensis from patients with febrile illnesses: Clinical and molecular characteristics, J INFEC DIS, 181(3), 2000, pp. 1082-1088
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease",Immunology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISSN journal
00221899 → ACNP
Volume
181
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1082 - 1088
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1899(200003)181:3<1082:PIOECF>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis was sought among patients with a history of tick expo sure and fever, and the accuracy of other diagnostic tests was compared wit h that of primary isolation. Among the 38 patients enrolled, E. chaffeensis was isolated from the blood of 7 (18%) and from cerebrospinal fluid specim ens of 2 of these 7. All 7 patients also were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of blood, and 6 patients developed diagnostic titers of anti body to E. chaffeensis. The isolates were characterized by molecular analys is of the 16S rRNA gene, the 120-kDa protein gene, and the variable-length PCR target (VLPT) of E. chaffeensis. On the basis of the 120-kDa and VLPT g enotypes, the cerebrospinal fluid and blood isolates from the same patients were identical. This study demonstrates that both PCR and culture of blood for E. chaffeensis have high diagnostic yields. More frequent isolation of E. chaffeensis from patients with infection should further our understandi ng of the pathogenesis of this infection.