Rickettsia sibirica infection in members of scientific expeditions to northern Asia

Matthew R. Lewin, Donald H. Bouyer, David H. Walker, Daniel M. Musher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

The risk of acquiring North Asian tick typhus (infection by Rickettsia sibirica) during travel to regions of Asia where this disease is endemic is unknown. We investigated prospectively 13 paleontologists on expedition to Mongolia. Four paleontologists had acute illness characterised by fever, rash, headache, and lymphadenopathy. All had IgM and IgG antibodies to R sibirica. Paleontologists with no illness and people who went on expeditions in other parts of the world did not have antibodies to R sibirica. Only two of the four infected persons were aware of tick bites. Travellers to regions endemic for R sibirica are at risk of contracting North Asian tick typhus even in the absence of recognised tick-bites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1201-1202
Number of pages2
JournalLancet
Volume362
Issue number9391
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 11 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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