Severe Rickettsia typhi Infections, Costa Rica

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Nov;29(11):2374-2376. doi: 10.3201/eid2911.221561.

Abstract

Murine typhus is a febrile, fleaborne disease caused by infection with Rickettsia typhi bacteria. Cases can range from mild and nonspecific to fatal. We report 2 cases of murine typhus in Costa Rica, confirming the presence and circulation of R. typhi causing severe disease in the country.

Keywords: Costa Rica; Rickettsia typhi; bacteria; endemic typhus; fleaborne typhus; murine typhus; rickettsia; severe infections; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Costa Rica / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Rickettsia typhi / genetics
  • Rickettsia*
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne* / diagnosis
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne* / epidemiology
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne* / microbiology