Rickettsia typhi Surface antigen - IgG

Rickettsia typhi is the etiological agent of murine typhus. R. typhi is transmitted primarily by the rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis. Lice and mites can be potential vectors and rodents, shrews, opossums, cats can be reservoir. The clinical manifestations of murine typhus are usually less severe than those of epidemic typhus and includes persistent headache, a high-grade fever, and a cutaneous rash predominating on the trunk. Murine typhus usually takes a prolonged incubation period and the characteristic rash is occasionally absent. An antibody response is usually detected only after 10 days from the onset of systemic symptoms, and antibody titers reach a peak after 3 to 4 weeks or later if an antibiotic therapy has been administered.