Detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia DNA by Deep Sequencing

Abstract

After conventional molecular and serologic testing failed to diagnose the cause of illness, deep sequencing identified spotted fever group Rickettsia DNA in a patient’s blood sample. Sequences belonged to R. honei, the causative agent of Flinders Island spotted fever. Next-generation sequencing is proving to be a useful tool for clinical diagnostics.

Keywords

• Rickettsia
• spotted fever group
• genome
• bacteria
• DNA
• sequence analysis