1/16. Imported African tick bite fever: a case report.We describe a patient with African tick-bite fever who acquired his infection while visiting rural areas of south africa and then became sick after returning to the united states. The dominant clinical feature of his illness was the presence of multiple, ulcerated lesions (tache noires). physicians in the United States and other non-African countries who see travelers returning from southern parts of Africa who give a history of recent tick bite and/or present with multiple, crusted or vesicular skin lesions should be alert to this diagnosis and institute treatment with doxycycline.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/16. African tick-bite fever imported into norway: presentation of 8 cases.We report on 8 Norwegian travellers to Southern Africa with African tick-bite fever (ATBF), a recently described spotted fever group rickettsiosis. All patients had acute flu-like symptoms and developed I or multiple inoculation eschars. The patients were treated with either doxycycline or ciprofloxacin, and all recovered. The diagnosis of ATBF was confirmed by the detection of specific IgM antibodies to Rickettsia africae by microimmunofluoroscence in convalescent-phase serum samples.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83333333333333keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/16. Outbreak of African tick-bite fever in six Italian tourists returning from South Africa.In May 1999, a cluster of cases of African tick-bite fever was detected in six Italian tourists who had returned from south africa. All of the patients had moderate fever and cutaneous eschars. Regional lymphangitis was observed in three of the patients and skin rash in two. By comparing the number of eschars with the number of detectable bite sites it was suggested that at least two-thirds of the biting vectors were capable of transmitting Rickettsia africae. The clinical course of disease was mild in all cases, and all but one of the patients recovered spontaneously before antibiotic treatment was initiated. The diagnosis of African tick-bite fever was confirmed serologically using both microimmunofluorescence and Western blot tests.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.1666666666667keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/16. African tick bite fever: not a spotless rickettsiosis!African tick bite fever is caused by Rickettsia africae, a newly recognized species from south africa. We report the case of a patient with an unusual site of a tick bite and discuss cutaneous differences from other spotted fevers that may help dermatologists with clinical diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/16. Rickettsia parkeri: a newly recognized cause of spotted fever rickettsiosis in the united states.ticks, including many that bite humans, are hosts to several obligate intracellular bacteria in the spotted fever group (SFG) of the genus Rickettsia. Only rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of rocky mountain spotted fever, has been definitively associated with disease in humans in the united states. Herein we describe disease in a human caused by Rickettsia parkeri, an SFG rickettsia first identified >60 years ago in Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) collected from the southern united states. Confirmation of the infection was accomplished using serological testing, immunohistochemical staining, cell culture isolation, and molecular methods. Application of specific laboratory assays to clinical specimens obtained from patients with febrile, eschar-associated illnesses following a tick bite may identify additional cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis and possibly other novel SFG rickettsioses in the united states.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/16. African tick-bite fever: four cases among Swiss travelers returning from south africa.BACKGROUND: African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is a recently described disease belonging to the spotted fever group. It is caused by Rickettsia africae, and cases are mainly diagnosed in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa. methods: We report four cases of ATBF among Swiss travelers returning from a 1-month trip in rural south africa. diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical, epidemiologic and serologic findings that we describe in detail. serology was performed using microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 14 months after the commencement of symptoms. RESULTS: All patients developed the typical eschar and a rash; two had a local lymphadenopathy and one a lymphangitic reaction. Two patients developed transient neuropsychiatric symptoms such as headache, irritability and depressed mood. All four patients had rises in both IgM and IgG classes of anti-R. africae antibodies. After 1 year, only two patients still had measurable circulating antibodies. Cross-reactions with R. conorii were noted. Three patients were cured after a short course of doxycycline; one required 15 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ATBF is a benign disease increasingly being diagnosed in travelers. After ruling out malaria, ATBF diagnosis relies upon a detailed travel history and the classical findings of influenza-like symptoms, fever, one or more necrotic eschars, and rash. serologic tests usually help to confirm the diagnosis. Neuropsychiatric symptoms specifically associated with ATBF are reported here for the first time.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83333333333333keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/16. Concomitant or consecutive infection with coxiella burnetii and tickborne diseases.BACKGROUND: q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by coxiella burnetii, which can be isolated from ticks. Reports of people with both q fever and other tickborne diseases are rare. In this study, we describe 6 patients with q fever who were infected with 1 of the following tickborne pathogens: rickettsia conorii (2 patients), Rickettsia slovaca (2), Rickettsia africae (1), and francisella tularensis (1). methods: Diagnoses were made on the basis of results of microimmunofluorescence assays for detection of C. burnetii, R. conorii, R. slovaca, R. africae, and F. tularensis antigens. Cross-adsorption studies and Western blots were used to confirm dual infections. RESULTS: Among the 6 cases presented, 3 were probably due to a concomitant infection after a tick bite, whereas the remaining 3 were more likely consecutive infections. CONCLUSIONS: Because acute q fever is often asymptomatic, we recommend that patients infected with the tickborne pathogens mentioned above also undergo routine testing for concurrent infections with C. burnetii.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/16. Not only 'Flinders Island' spotted fever.AIM: To demonstrate that Flinders Island spotted fever (FISF), a spotted fever group rickettsial infection caused by Rickettsia honei, is found not only on Flinders Island (bass Strait), tasmania, but elsewhere in south-east Australia. methods: Cases of FISF were identified by rickettsial serology, culture and the detection of rickettsial dna via PCR. Isolates and PCR products were sequenced to identify the aetiological agent as R. honei. RESULTS: Three new cases of FISF were detected outside of Flinders Island. One on Schouten Island, south of the Freycinet Peninsula, tasmania, and two in south-eastern south australia (McLaren Vale and Goolwa). CONCLUSIONS: These cases show that FISF extends beyond Flinders Island and most likely has the same distribution across south-east Australia as its vector, the reptile tick Aponomma hydrosauri. FISF should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients from south-eastern Australia presenting with fever, headache and rash following a tick bite.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/16. Cardiac involvement in a patient with clinical and serological evidence of African tick-bite fever.BACKGROUND: myocarditis and pericarditis are rare complications of rickettsiosis, usually associated with rickettsia rickettsii and R. conorii. African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is generally considered as a benign disease and no cases of myocardial involvement due to Rickettsia africae, the agent of ATBF, have yet been described. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient, that travelled in an endemic area, presented typical inoculation eschars, and a seroconversion against R. africae, was admitted for chest pains and increased cardiac enzymes in the context of an acute myocarditis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that ATBF, that usually presents a benign course, may be complicated by an acute myocarditis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83333333333333keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/16. Sub-acute neuropathy in patients with African tick bite fever.African tick bite fever (ATBF) caused by Rickettsia africae is an emerging health problem in travellers to sub-Saharan Africa. We here present 6 patients with evidence of long-lasting sub-acute neuropathy following ATBF contracted during safari trips to southern Africa. Three patients developed radiating pain, paresthaesia and/or motor weakness of extremities, 2 had hemi-facial pain and paresthaesia, and 1 developed unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. When evaluated 3-26 months after symptom onset, cerebrospinal fluid samples from 5 patients were negative for R. africae PCR and serology, but revealed elevated protein content in 3 and mild pleocytosis in 1 case. Despite extensive investigations, no plausible alternative causes of neuropathy could be identified. Treatment with doxycycline in 2 patients had no clinical effect. Given the current increase of international safari tourism to sub-Saharan Africa, more cases of sub-acute neuropathy following ATBF may well be encountered in europe and elsewhere in the y to come.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83333333333333keywords = bite (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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