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 relates to a composition comprising an immunogenic amount of E. chaffeeensis antigen, either naturally produced or recombinantly made, to induce antibodies against E. chaffeeensis in a host susceptible to infection by E. chaffeeensis.   

Inventors: Jacqueline E Dawson and Burt Anderson

CDC Reference Number: E-029-91/4

USPTO Serial Number: 09/061,770

Patent Number: 6,541,199