Abstract
Background: Until recently, Rickettsia rickettsii was the only substantiated cause of tick-borne spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis in humans in the United States. Rickettsia parkeri, originally thought to be nonpathogenic in humans, was recently proved to be another cause of tickborne SFG rickettsiosis. Observations:Wereport 3 cases of SFG rickettsiosis and discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, histopathologic features, and laboratory findings that support confirmed or probable diagnoses of R parkeri infection and describe the expanding list of eschar-associated SFG rickettsioses recognized in US patients. Conclusions: The SFG rickettsioses share many clinical manifestations and extensive antigenic cross-reactivity that may hamper specific confirmation of the causative agent.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 641-648 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Archives of dermatology |
Volume | 146 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology