Western blot as a seroepidemiologic tool for detecting foci of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF)

Eur J Epidemiol. 1994 Feb;10(1):37-40. doi: 10.1007/BF01717449.

Abstract

We conducted a serosurvey on Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), in a nonendemic area using western blot and microimmunofluorescence. Among 262 tested sera, 53 were positive by micro-immunofluorescence at a titer of 50. When 48 positive sera were western blot tested, 15 did not exhibited any reaction, 17 reacted against the non-specific lipopolysaccharide, and only 16 reacted against the specific protein antigens. Fourteen of the sera with a specific reaction were sampled in a village with a unique submediterranean climate. Western blot may be a more specific tool to determine the real seroprevalence of MSF.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Boutonneuse Fever / epidemiology*
  • Boutonneuse Fever / immunology
  • Disease Reservoirs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Rickettsia / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial