Serologic and molecular detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophila (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent) in Korean patients

J Clin Microbiol. 2002 Aug;40(8):3082-5. doi: 10.1128/JCM.40.8.3082-3085.2002.

Abstract

Sera from 491 Korean patients with acute febrile diseases were tested for Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophila antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), Western blotting, and TaqMan real-time PCR. Overall, 0.4% of sera reacted with E. chaffeensis, and 1.8% reacted with A. phagocytophila in IFAs. This is the first report of detection of antibodies to A. phagocytophila and E. chaffeensis in Korea and suggests the presence of A. phagocytophila and E. chaffeensis or antigenically similar species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anaplasma / genetics
  • Anaplasma / immunology
  • Anaplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Anaplasmosis / diagnosis
  • Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Anaplasmosis / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis / genetics
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis / immunology
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis / isolation & purification*
  • Ehrlichiosis / diagnosis
  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology*
  • Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Taq Polymerase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Taq Polymerase