Ehrlichiosis is non-communicable, rarely fatal, rickettsial disease found in the United States. It is clinically similar to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever but lacks the distinctive rash and is related to Sennetsu Fever. A new isolate of the Ehrlichia species, E. chaffeensis, has been obtained from a patient suffering from ehrlichiosis. This invention includes a PCR based diagnostic kit and methods for diagnosing ehrlichiosis in humans and for screening drugs toxic.   

Inventors: Jacqueline E Dawson and Burt Anderson

CDC Reference Number: E-029-91/3

USPTO Serial Number: 

Patent Number: 5,789,176