High initial IgG antibody levels against Orientia tsutsugamushi are associated with an increased risk of severe scrub typhus infection.
BackgroundScrub typhus is a dominant cause of febrile illness in Magnifying Glass many parts of Asia.Immunity is limited by the great strain diversity of Orientia tsutsugamushi.It is unclear whether previous infection protects from severe infection or enhances the risk.Methods/principal findingsWe studied IgG antibody levels against O.tsutsugamushi