Serologic response to rickettsial antigens in patients with Astrakhan fever

Astrakhan fever is a new spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis. Sera of patients with Astrakhan fever have been examined by microimmunofluorescense and western immunoblotting to determine the serologic responses to the Astrakhan strain and to R. conorii M-1 strain and the Israelian isolate of SFG rickettsiae. The serologic response to specific rickettsial agent and to Israelian isolate has been found to be similar, but was different of that to R. conorii. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were detected in most sera and were directed against the lipopolysaccharide. Only one of tested sera contained IgG antibodies which also recognized high molecular weight proteins.