Serologic Diagnosis of Acute Rickettsiosis in Children in Southern Israel

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021 Dec 1;40(12):e521-e523. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003303.

Abstract

We assessed serology results of clinically suspected rickettsiosis episodes in the hospital setting. Overall, 322 of 963 (33%) cases were serology positive. Among those, rash rates were low (30%), murine typhus (MT) predominated over spotted fever and IgM positivity rate was higher in MT. These findings suggest that during acute rickettsiosis, serology may reliably identify MT infection but may underdiagnose spotted fever.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rickettsia Infections / blood
  • Rickettsia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / immunology
  • Rickettsia typhi / immunology*
  • Serologic Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M