Reverse transcriptase PCR amplification of Rickettsia typhi from infected mammalian cells and insect vectors.

We developed a reverse transcriptase PCR assay to detect expression of 120- and 17-kDa antigen genes in Rickettsia typhi. Infected Vero cell and flea RNAs were reverse transcribed by using random hexamers. The cDNA was amplified by using high concentrations of primer and template in an inexpensive, nonradioactive assay.