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Questions on Mediterranean spotted fever a century after its discovery.
- Source :
-
Emerging infectious diseases [Emerg Infect Dis] 2008 Sep; Vol. 14 (9), pp. 1360-7. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) was first described in 1910. Twenty years later, it was recognized as a rickettsial disease transmitted by the brown dog tick. In contrast to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), MSF was thought to be a benign disease; however, the first severe case that resulted in death was reported in France in the 1980s. We have noted important changes in the epidemiology of MSF in the last 10 years, with emergence and reemergence of MSF in several countries. Advanced molecular tools have allowed Rickettsia conorii conorii to be classified as a subspecies of R. conorii. New clinical features, such as multiple eschars, have been recently reported. Moreover, MSF has become more severe than RMSF; the mortality rate was as high as 32% in Portugal in 1997. Whether Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the only vector and reservoir for R. conorii conorii is a question not yet answered.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Arachnid Vectors
Boutonneuse Fever transmission
Communicable Diseases, Emerging
Humans
Mediterranean Region epidemiology
Rhipicephalus sanguineus microbiology
Rickettsia conorii
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever epidemiology
Time Factors
United States epidemiology
Boutonneuse Fever epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1080-6059
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18760001
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1409.071133