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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2000, p. 4269-4271, Vol. 38, No. 11
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Serodiagnosis of Bartonella bacilliformis Infection by Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Assay: Test Development and Application to a Population in an Area of Bartonellosis Endemicity

Judith Chamberlin,1,* Larry Laughlin,1 Scott Gordon,1 Sofia Romero,2 Nelson Solórzano,3 and Russell L. Regnery4

Department of Preventive Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland1; Naval Medical Research Institute Detachment, Lima,2 and Ministry of Health, Caraz,3 Peru; and Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia4

Received 2 May 2000/Returned for modification 12 July 2000/Accepted 5 September 2000

Bartonella bacilliformis causes bartonellosis, a potentially life-threatening emerging infectious disease seen in the Andes Mountains of South America. There are no generally accepted serologic tests to confirm the disease. We developed an indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test for the detection of antibodies to B. bacilliformis and then tested its performance as an aid in the diagnosis of acute bartonellosis. The IFA is 82% sensitive in detecting B. bacilliformis antibodies in acute-phase blood samples of laboratory-confirmed bartonellosis patients. When used to examine convalescent-phase sera, the IFA is positive in 93% of bartonellosis cases. The positive predictive value of the test is 89% in an area of Peru where B. bacilliformis is endemic and where the point prevalence of infection is 45%.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Tropical Public Health, Rm. A3085, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301) 295-3725. Fax: (301) 295-3860. E-mail: drdj{at}erols.com.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2000, p. 4269-4271, Vol. 38, No. 11
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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