An Epidemiologic and Immunologic Study of Boutonneuse Fever in Israel.
Abstract
The study was undertaken to continue investigations on the etiology and epidemiology of the infections resembling boutonneuse fever which appear in Israel as well as to compare serologic methods for the determination of past and current infections with the etiologic agent. Fluorescent antibody methods were compared with complement fixation tests in a serologic survey of the population of Kfar-Vitkin and its surroundings. Complement fixation detected antibodies in about four percent of the population whereas using fluorescent antibody methods 24 percent were found positive. Fluorescent antibody methods were also found to be more useful in detecting current infection than the complement fixation test. With the aid of a three-layer fluorescent antibody staining technique designed for this purpose, antibodies were detected in 62 percent of dogs, 42 percent of hedgehogs and 57 percent of meriones tested. The rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis was found capable of biological transmission of a spotted fever agent in the laboratory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0766359
Entities
People
- Marcus A. Klingberg
- Robert A. Goldwasser
- Tiberio A. Swartz
- Wanda Klingberg
- Yonel Steinman
Organizations
- Israel Institute for Biological Research