Scrub typhus has been one of the most emerging and re-emerging rickettsial infections with increasing trend in incidences of disease worldwide including India. Clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus is difficult because the signs and symptoms of scrub typhus are almost like other febrile diseases. The mainstay in scrub-typhus diagnosis is serology. In developing countries, among the various laboratory tests to diagnose scrub typhus, WeilFelix test is usually performed despite its low sensitivity. The current study was conducted to compare the efficacy of different serological methods for diagnosis of Scrub typhus. Weil-Felix test, IgM ELISA and ICT were performed in clinically suspected cases of scrub typhus using commercially available kits taking the conventional InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM ELISA as reference. Positive Predictive value, Negative Predictive Values, Percentage Sensitivity and Specificity for ICT and Weil-Felix is 100%, , , 100%, and 59%, , , respectively. A total of 253 samples were positive in reference standard InBios IgM ELISA. Owing to the constrains of the Weil-Felix test and IFA, commercially available recombinant IgM ELISA and ICT which has a good sensitivity and specificity may be an alternative in laboratories with moderate set up. | Serodiagnosis of scrub typhus cases by different diagnostic tests
