TABLE 5.

Detection and quantitation of R. rickettsii DNA in clinical and experimental samples

Sample no.	Origin	Type of sample	Ct value (mean ± SE)	No. of calculated DNA copies (mean ± SE)a	Additional information
1	Human patient	Whole blood	26.19 ± 0.10	2.39 × 104 ± 0.20 × 105	Acute RMSFc
2	Human donor	Whole blood	>36	≤1b
3	Human donor	Skin biopsy	>36	≤1b
4	M. pinetorum	Whole blood	27.69 ± 0.51	8.51 × 104 ± 2.74 × 104	Acute experimental RMSF
5	M. pinetorum	Brain	29.41 ± 0.29	4.56 × 104 ± 1.03 × 104	Acute experimental RMSF
6	M. pinetorum	Brain	29.08 ± 0.48	8.70 × 104 ± 2.42 × 104	Fatal experimental RMSF
7	M. pinetorum	Brain	>37	≤1	Convalescent from experimental RMSF
8	M. pinetorum	Lung	30.57 ± 0.33	3.91 × 104 ± 2.07 × 104	Acute experimental RMSF
9	M. pinetorum	Lung	28.26 ± 0.73	2.45 × 104 ± 0.81 × 105	Fatal experimental RMSF
10	M. pinetorum	Lung	>37	≤1	Convalescent from experimental RMSF
11	Amblyomma tick	Whole tick	23.20 ± 0.58	3.45 × 106 ± 0.10 × 106	Questing tick
12	Amblyomma tick	Whole tick	21.38 ± 0.27	1.17 × 107 ± 0.10 × 107	Questing tick
13	Amblyomma tick	Whole tick	>37	≤1b	Questing tick

^aDNA copy numbers were calculated per milliliter of blood, milligram of tissue, or whole tick.

^bThe absence of amplification of rickettsial DNA was confirmed by an independent PCR assay.

^cRMSF, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.