[Autochthonous case of spotted fever caused by Rickettsia parkeri in Ensenada, Buenos Aires]

Medicina (B Aires). 2018;78(3):203-206.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

We present a case of spotted fever occurred in an adult residing in Ensenada, Buenos Aires province in February 2016. The patient presented with an acute febrile syndrome associated with a skin necrotic lesion on the left leg secondary to a tick bite. The general symptoms were a maculopapular rash, headache, myalgia, and arthralgias. Seroconversion of anti-Rickettsia specific IgG antibodies confirmed recent infection. The nucleotidic and aminoacidic sequences of a gltA gen fragment matched 100% the sequences of R. parkeri strains from Argentina and other countries of America. The patient responded well to treatment with doxycycline.

Keywords: Argentina; Rickettsia infections; Rickettsia parkeri; spotted fever; tick-borne diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rickettsia / classification
  • Rickettsia / genetics*
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / diagnosis*
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / transmission
  • Ticks / microbiology*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial