• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 1998

In Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, antibodies against strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi, Kato, Karp and Gilliam, were produced in order to investigate their longevity and cross-reactivities to their corresponding homologous and heterologous antigens. By immunofluorescence assay (IFA) of IgG and IgM, it was shown that the immunity to the homologous strains persisted at a higher level (longevity of at least 34 weeks with higher IFA titers). On the other hand, the immunity to the heterologous strains persisted at a lower level (longevity of 10 to 34 weeks with lower IFA titers). Since infection with one strain of O. tsutsugamushi does not preclude reinfection with other strains, understanding of the antigenic diversity of O. tsutsugamushi and duration of the immunity to both homologous and heterologous strain is very important in diagnosis of scrub typhus.