Short report: Rickettsia felis outer membrane protein A: a potential tool for diagnosis of patients with flea-borne spotted fever
Zavala-Castro, J.E.; Dzul-Rosado, K.R.; León, J.José.Arias.; Walker, D.H.; Zavala-Velázquez, J.E.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 79(6): 903-906
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 19052301 Document Number: 621495
Rickettsia felis infection in humans has been detected worldwide, causing an illness that could be confused with other viral and bacterial infections such as dengue fever. Despite the high incidence of infection in humans, reservoirs, and vectors, the definitive diagnosis of R. felis infection currently requires polymerase chain reaction and sequencing because its antigens are closely related to other rickettsiae, making serologic diagnosis problematic. In this work, we report the immune reactivity of sera from four patients infected with R. felis with recombinant peptides representing regions of outer membrane protein A of R. felis.