Immunoblot cross-reactions among Rickettsia, Proteus spp. and Legionella spp. in patients with Mediterranean spotted fever |
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| Authors: | D. Raoult G.A. Dasch |
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| Affiliation: | Unitédes Rickettsies, Facultéde Médecine, CNRS EP J 0054, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, Cedex 05, France;Naval Medical Research Institute, Mail Stop 7, Naval Medical Command National Capital Region, Bethesda, MD 20814-5055, USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Sera from patients suffering from Mediterranean spotted fever (i.e. an infection due to Rickettsia conorii ) were studied by immunoblot to investigate cross-reactivity. A prevalence of IgM antibodies to Proteus OX 19, Proteus 0X 2, to the Rickettsia typhus group, to Legionella pneumophila serovars 4 and 5, to L. bozemanii Wiga and to L. micdadei Tatlock was found. Western blot confirmed that the antibodies were directed against the lipopolysaccharide as demonstrated by proteinase K digestion of the antigens. Cross-adsorptions showed that there is a common cross-reacting epitope among L. bozemanii Wiga, R. typhi and Proteus OX 19 but cross-reacting antibodies to L. micdadei and OX 2 were distinct and independent. This IgM cross-reaction could lead to a misdiagnosis. |
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| Keywords: | Immunoblot cross-reaction Rickettsia Legionella Lipopolysaccharide |
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