Murine typhus and “murine-thypus-like” disease are reemerging infectious diseases. In Canary Islands (Spain), a rather distinct clinical pattern characterized by higher incidence of complications, especially renal damage (including acute failure and urinalysis abnormalities), is apparent and highly suggestive. It could be related to different strains of Rickettsia typhi or other cross-reactive species.

We report the first cases of human infection by Rickettsia felis in the Canary Islands. Antibodies against R. felis were found in 5 adsorbed serum samples from 44 patients with clinically suspected rickettsiosis by Western blot serology. Fleas from 1 patient's dog were positive for R. felis by polymerase chain reaction.

The historical identification of the Brazilian 'north-eastern' zorro as Dusicyon vetulus is questioned in relation to its incrimination as a reservoir of Leishmania chagasi, the agent of American visceral leishmaniasis. Comparative cranial and dental morphology showed that specimens of this north-eastern species more closely resemble the crab-eating zorro Cerdocyon thous, conforming with the documented geographical ranges of the respective species. We conclude that the single 'wild' canid host of L. chagasi in the neotropics in C. thous.