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Worldwide detection and identification of new and old rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases

Allen L Richards1

  • 1Department of Viral & Rickettsial Diseases, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. allen.richards@med.navy.mil

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|November 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Molecular techniques like PCR enhance the detection and identification of rickettsial pathogens globally. These methods expand our understanding of rickettsioses distribution and associated risks in various regions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Rickettsial pathogens cause important human and animal diseases.
  • Traditional diagnostic methods (serology, culture) have limitations in sensitivity and scope.
  • Global distribution and prevalence of rickettsioses require updated surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the application and impact of molecular techniques in rickettsial pathogen detection.
  • To highlight the role of these methods in identifying new and known rickettsiae.
  • To assess the contribution to understanding rickettsioses distribution and risk areas.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays.
  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
  • Application to diverse clinical and environmental samples (serum, blood, tissues, arthropods, animal specimens).

Main Results:

  • Increased detection and identification of diverse rickettsial species.
  • Expansion of known endemic regions for rickettsioses.
  • Identification of pathogens in previously unrecognized locations.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular techniques have revolutionized rickettsial pathogen surveillance.
  • These methods are crucial for accurate diagnosis and epidemiological studies.
  • Findings suggest the need for revised risk assessments and public health strategies for rickettsioses.

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