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Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Prakash, JAJ; Sohan Lal, T; Rosemol, V; Verghese, VP; Pulimood, SA; Reller, M; Dumler, JS
Published in: Pathog Glob Health
March 2012

BACKGROUND: Detection of specific targets by PCR is used to confirm a diagnosis of spotted fever, but serological tests are still widely used. In this prospective study, nested PCR was performed on skin biopsy specimens to confirm the diagnosis of spotted fever. METHODS: In 58 clinically suspected cases of spotted fever, nested PCR, to detect gltA, 17 kDa lipoprotein antigen gene (17 kDa), ompA and ompB, from skin biopsy of the rash was performed. Sequencing was carried on amplicons representing the four targets to confirm specificity of amplification. This was followed by phylogenetic analysis using MEGA version 4.0 software. RESULTS: The gltA, 17 kDa, ompA, and ompB genes were detected from skin biopsy specimens in 38, 23, 27, and 22 individuals. Sequence analysis revealed that the gltA, 17 kDa, ompA, and ompB sequences belonged to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsia. Of the six partial ompA gene sequences, only one was dissimilar to the previously reported 'Candidatus Rickettsia kellyi'. CONCLUSION: Further evidence indicates that SFG rickettsiae resembling 'Candidatus Rickettsia kellyi' cause fever and rash in southern India. More detailed phylogenetic analysis following isolation of rickettsia in culture is required for providing irrefutable proof for the occurrence of novel spotted fever rickettsiae in this region.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Pathog Glob Health

DOI

EISSN

2047-7732

Publication Date

March 2012

Volume

106

Issue

1

Start / End Page

40 / 45

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial
  • Skin
  • Rickettsia Infections
  • Rickettsia
  • Prospective Studies
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Phylogeny
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Fever
 

Citation

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Prakash, J. A. J., Sohan Lal, T., Rosemol, V., Verghese, V. P., Pulimood, S. A., Reller, M., & Dumler, J. S. (2012). Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India. Pathog Glob Health, 106(1), 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000001
Prakash, John Antony Jude, T. Sohan Lal, Varghese Rosemol, Valsan Philip Verghese, Susanne A. Pulimood, Megan Reller, and John Stephen Dumler. “Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India.Pathog Glob Health 106, no. 1 (March 2012): 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000001.
Prakash JAJ, Sohan Lal T, Rosemol V, Verghese VP, Pulimood SA, Reller M, et al. Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India. Pathog Glob Health. 2012 Mar;106(1):40–5.
Prakash, John Antony Jude, et al. “Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India.Pathog Glob Health, vol. 106, no. 1, Mar. 2012, pp. 40–45. Pubmed, doi:10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000001.
Prakash JAJ, Sohan Lal T, Rosemol V, Verghese VP, Pulimood SA, Reller M, Dumler JS. Molecular detection and analysis of spotted fever group Rickettsia in patients with fever and rash at a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India. Pathog Glob Health. 2012 Mar;106(1):40–45.

Published In

Pathog Glob Health

DOI

EISSN

2047-7732

Publication Date

March 2012

Volume

106

Issue

1

Start / End Page

40 / 45

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial
  • Skin
  • Rickettsia Infections
  • Rickettsia
  • Prospective Studies
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Phylogeny
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Fever