Strategies for detecting rickettsiae and diagnosing rickettsial diseases

• Published in: Future microbiology Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 537 - 564
• Main Authors: Luce-Fedrow, Alison, Mullins, Kristin, Kostik, Alex P, St John, Heidi K, Jiang, Ju, Richards, Allen L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Medicine Ltd 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Arachnids; Bacteria; Bacteriological Techniques - methods; Bacteriology; Diagnosis; Disclosure; Disease; ELISA; Fever; Genomes; Humans; Infections; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods; multilocus sequence typing; quantitative real-time PCR; Rickettsia Infections - diagnosis; Rickettsia Infections - microbiology; Rickettsiae; Rickettsial diseases; Rickettsieae - isolation & purification; Scrub Typhus - diagnosis; Scrub Typhus - microbiology; scrub typhus group; Serologic Tests - methods; Software; spotted fever group; Typhus; typhus group; multilocus sequence typing; typhus group; Rickettsia; quantitative real-time PCR; spotted fever group; Orientia; scrub typhus group; ELISA
• ISSN: 1746-0913; 1746-0921
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.141

Rickettsial diseases and scrub typhus constitute a group of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. The cosmopolitan distribution of the vectors that transmit rickettsiae and orientiae leads to a worldwide prevalence of these diseases. Despite their significant historical status, detection and diagnosis of these diseases are still evolving today. Serological methods remain among the most prevalent techniques used for the detection/diagnosis of rickettsial diseases and scrub typhus. Molecular techniques have been instrumental in increasing the sensitivity/specificity of diagnosis, identifying new and species and have enhanced epidemiological capabilities when used in combination with serological methods. In this review, we discuss these techniques and their associated pros and cons.