The serological response of patients infected with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Jan 1;34(1):22-7. doi: 10.1086/323811. Epub 2001 Nov 21.

Abstract

To characterize the serological response in humans to human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), we prospectively observed 152 patients for as long as 42 months. HGE was confirmed by detection of morulae in blood smears, polymerase chain reaction, blood culture, or a combination of these tests for 94 patients (62.3%), and 92 (97.8%) of the patients had specific serum antibodies thereafter. One hundred twenty-six (99.2%) of 127 patients tested at 1 month were seropositive (89 of 127 patients had seroconversion), and 150 (98.7%) of the 152 patients had become seropositive by 6 months. Eleven patients (7.3%) remained seropositive at 42 months. Neither antibiotic therapy initiated during the first week of illness nor preexisting immunosuppressive conditions abrogated a serological response. Indirect fluorescent antibody testing of acute-phase and convalescent-phase serum samples is a sensitive tool for laboratory confirmation of HGE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Age Factors
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibody Formation
  • Ehrlichiosis / diagnosis
  • Ehrlichiosis / drug therapy
  • Ehrlichiosis / immunology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Granulocytes / immunology
  • Granulocytes / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Serologic Tests
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents