Table 2. Results of PCR analysis and serum antibody titers to different tickborne pathogens tested at different times after the onset of illness*.
| Days after onset of illness | PCR† 16S RNA gene | ELISA IgM/IgG‡ TBEV | IFA IgG A. phagocytophilum | IFA IgM/IgG E. chaffeensis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaplasma phagocytophilum | Ehrlichia chaffeensis | ||||
| 12 | Pos | Neg | 0.614/129 | Neg | Neg/neg |
| 14 | Neg | Neg | 1.369/251 | 512 | Neg/neg |
| 20 | – | – | 1.187/382 | 2,048 | Neg/neg |
| 45 | – | – | 0.419/220 | 512 | Neg/neg |
| 144 | – | – | 0.400/179 | 512 | Neg/neg |
*PCR, polymerase chain reaction; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IFA, indirect immunofluorescence assay; Ig, immunoglobulin; Neg, negative; Pos, positive; TBEV, tickborne encephalitis virus. †Primers Ehr521 and Ehr790 specific to A. phagocytophilum and primers HE1 and HE3 specific to E. chaffeensis. ‡Cut-off value for TBEV IgM is 0.272–0.372 and for IgG is 7.5 U/mL, according to the manufacturer's procedure