Journal of the Korean Society of Virology  1998;28(2):193-201

Longevity of Antibodies to Live Orientia tsutsugamushi Inoculated in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Chang Nam AN ; Sungmin KIM ; Song Yong PARK ; Tae Yeon KIM ; Luck Ju BAEK ; Chul Joong KIM ; Kwang Soon SHIN

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

In Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, antibodies against strains of Orinentia tsutsugamushi, Kato, Karp and Gilliam, were produced in order to investigate their longevity and cross-reactivities to their corresponding homologous and heterologous antigens. By immunofluorescence assay (IFA) of IgG and IgM, it was shown that the immunity to the homologous strains persisted at a higher level (longevity of at least 34 weeks with higher IFA titers). On the other hand, the immunity to the heterologous strains persisted at a lower level (longevity of 10 to 34 weeks with lower IFA titers). Since infection with one strain of O. tsutsugamushi does not preclude reinfection with other strains, understanding of the antigenic diversity of O. tsutsugamushi and duration of the immunity to both homologous and heterologous strain is very important in diagnosis of scrub typhus.