engleski

Histopathology and immunopathology of skin biopsy specimens in Mediterranean spotted fever

There is neither a specific histologic nor a clinical feature of the spotted fevers. However, both of these changes could be sufficiently characteristic and the diagnosis confir¬med serologically and/or by identification of the agents in skin lesions. The coccobacillary forms of the rickettsiae could be identified by direct (DIF) or indirect immunofluorescent (IIF) staining of skin biopsies, which proved to be rapid and specific tests. Very recently, a immunoperoxidase (IP) technique has been shown to be more sensitive and easier to perform. By the latter methods rickettsiae can be discer¬ned as early as two to four days after the onset of the di¬sease in contradistinction to serological tests. Here the authors describe the histology of the skin lesions as well as the demonstration in them Rickettsia conorii by direct immunofluorescent staining in 13 patients, in which the diagnosis of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) was also confirmed by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFA).

rickettsiae conorii, direct imunnofluorescent test, skin biopsy

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