TYPHUS FEVER (RICKETTSIA) ANTIBODIES IgG & IgM

FLEAS ACQUIRE R. TYPHI FROM RICKTTESMIC RATS AND CARRY THE ORGANISM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE SPAN. HUMANS ARE INFECTED WHEN RICKETTSIA LADEN FLEAS FECES CONTAMINATE PRURITIC BITE OR THROUGH THE BITE ITSELF. INCUBATION PERIOD IS 8 TO 16 DAYS. TYPHUS FEVER MANIFESTS WITH FEVER, RASH & COUGH. ANTIGEN SPECIFIC IGG & IGM TITERS ALLOW RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTION BY ONE OR MORE OF THE TYPHUS FEVER GROUP OF RICKETTSIAL AGENTS. THIS GROUP INCLUDES RICKETTSIA TYPHI (ENDEMIC OR MURINE TYPHUS) R. PROWAZEKI (EPIDEMIC TYPHUS), AND BRILL-ZINSSWE DISEASE CAUSED BY REACTIVATION OF LATENT R. PROWAZEKI.