Targeting surface cell antigen 2 increases sensitivity of Rickettsia typhi detection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Murine typhus is a flea-borne disease caused by Rickettsia typhi that typically presents as an acute febrile illness. The diagnosis is often missed, leading to delays in appropriate treatment. A qPCR targeting a single gene (ompB) for R. typhi is widely used for diagnosis; however, it has low sensitivity for detecting bacterial DNA in patients' blood. We aimed to increase sensitivity of detection of R. typhi using qPCR by targeting a gene containing repetitive sequences, sca2 (surface cell antigen 2).

Methodology

We compared diagnostic accuracy with the standard assay targeting single sequence ompB (outer membrane protein B). Specificity, sensitivity, and bacterial load measurement of both assays were compared using stored EDTA-anticoagulated buffy coat samples fr

SUBMITTER: Phuklia W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12919770 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature