Isolation of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi Antigenically Different from Kato, Karp, and Gilliam Strains from Patients

Abstract

Rickettsia tsutsugamushi strains from three recent patients of Tsutsugamushi disease in Niigata Prefecture were isolated primarily in mice and then in L cell cultures. By this procedure, low virulent strains to mice, as well as high virulent ones, could be isolated and cultivated serially in L cell cultures, suggesting the usefulness of L cells for isolation of this species of rickettsia. Each newly isolated strain was identified as a member of R. tsutsugamushi from the results of cross immunological tests and morphological observation. On the other hand, it was recognized that one of these rickettsiae showed immunological properties distinguishable from the prototype strains of Kato, Karp, and Gilliam by the cross complement fixation test, and also had low virulence in mice.

Phylogenetic Analysis of the 56 kDa Protein Genes of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Southwest Area of Korea

“…[22][23][24][25] In Korea, the Boryong serotype was reported to be distributed throughout the country except for Cheju Island. 26 The Karp and Gilliam serotypes were prevalent in Taiwan, whereas the Gilliam serotype was prevalent in China.…”

Immunoblotting Analysis of Anti‐Rickettsial Antibodies Produced in Patients of Tsutsugamushi Disease

“…The prototype strains of Gilliam, Karp, and Kato were plaque-purified in our laboratory. Shimokoshi strain was isolated from a patient and demonstrated to be antigenically distinguishable from prototype strains (9). All rickettsial strains used in this study were propagated in the monolayer or suspension cultures of L-929 cells as described previously (8).…”

“…The prototype strains of Gilliam, Karp, and Kato are generally recognized, and other antigenic types such as Shimokoshi and Kawasaki strains have been isolated (9,12). Our recent comparative immunoblotting analyses of these variants with guinea pig hyperimmune sera and strain-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that the major polypeptide of 54 to 56 kilodalton (54-56K) on the rickettsial surface is antigenically strain-or type-specific, whereas the 70K and 46-47K polypeptides are group-specific (5,10).…”

Epidemiological Studies on the Background of the Endemic Occurrence of Tsutsugamushi Disease in Toyama Prefecture

“…90 %) of the sera ( Table 6). The antibodies in the remaining 10% may be against common group antigen among Kato, Karp, and Gilliam strains, or against antigen of Rt other than the 3 strains, or against some unknown infectious agent, but the former two possibilities are more likely, because new strains of Rt possessing type-specific antigen (s) different from those of the 3 strains have been isolated (23,24). Any infectious agent sharing antigens common with Rt has not been reported except Proteus vulgaris, and Rtspecific seroconversion has been observed at a remarkable frequency in the endemic area (Table 4).…”