Comer J A, Nicholson W L, Sumner J W, Olson J G, Childs J E
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Jan;37(1):31-4. doi: 10.1128/JCM.37.1.31-34.1999.
A PCR assay of 43 acute-phase serum samples was evaluated as a method for early detection of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) and determination of etiology when serologic testing is inconclusive. Sequence-confirmed products of the HGE agent were amplified from three individuals residing or having exposure history in Minnesota or Wisconsin, and similarly confirmed products from Ehrlichia chaffeensis were amplified from three individuals from Florida or Maryland. Etiology, as determined by PCR and serology, was the same whenever there was a fourfold difference between the maximum titers of antibodies to both antigens, indicating that presumptive determination of etiology may be based on fourfold differences in titers. PCR testing determined that E. chaffeensis was the etiologic agent for one individual who had similar titers of antibodies to both agents. PCR assay of acute-phase serum in the absence of whole blood specimens may be a useful method for early detection of human ehrlichiosis and determination of etiology when serologic testing is inconclusive.
对43份急性期血清样本进行了聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测，以评估其作为早期检测人粒细胞埃立克体病（HGE）以及在血清学检测结果不明确时确定病因的一种方法。从居住在明尼苏达州或威斯康星州或有该地区暴露史的3名个体中扩增出了经序列确认的HGE病原体产物，同样，从佛罗里达州或马里兰州的3名个体中扩增出了经确认的恰菲埃立克体产物。当两种抗原抗体的最高滴度存在四倍差异时，通过PCR和血清学确定的病因是相同的，这表明病因的初步确定可以基于滴度的四倍差异。PCR检测确定，对于一名两种病原体抗体滴度相似的个体，恰菲埃立克体是病原体。在没有全血样本的情况下，对急性期血清进行PCR检测可能是早期检测人埃立克体病和在血清学检测结果不明确时确定病因的一种有用方法。
