Cutaneous leishmaniasis and rickettsial African tick‐bite fever: a combination of exotic traveler’s diseases in the same patient

Schwartz, Robert A.; Kapila, Rajendra; McElligott, Sean; Atkin, Suzanne H.; Lambert, W. Clark

doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05362.x

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This individual reported being scratched on the ankle by a gnat. Cutaneous biopsy showed leishmania promastigotes of Leishmania tropica, and the diagnosis of ATBF was based on serology [15]. Most of these cases were diagnosed through serology or the PCR analysis of skin biopsies [9,12,28,37].…”

Section: African Tick Bite Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

Rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers (2004–2013)

Delord

Socolovschi

Parola

2014

Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease

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Section: African Tick Bite Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

Rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers (2004–2013)

Delord

Socolovschi

Parola

2014

Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease

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“…Rickettsial diseases associated with spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae as well as Q fever, and cat scratch disease have been recorded in neighbouring countries (South Africa [17]; Botswana [32]; Zambia [33]; Angola [34] and Zimbabwe [35]. However, virtually nothing is known about their presence in Namibia [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure and Risk Factors to Coxiella burnetii, Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae, and Bartonella henselae among Volunteer Blood Donors in Namibia

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe role of pathogen-mediated febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa is receiving more attention, especially in Southern Africa where four countries (including Namibia) are actively working to eliminate malaria. With a high concentration of livestock and high rates of companion animal ownership, the influence of zoonotic bacterial diseases as causes of febrile illness in Namibia remains unknown.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe aim of the study was to evaluate exposure to Coxiella burnetii, spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae, and Bartonella henselae using IFA and ELISA (IgG) in serum collected from 319 volunteer blood donors identified by the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS). Serum samples were linked to a basic questionnaire to identify possible risk factors. The majority of the participants (64.8%) had extensive exposure to rural areas or farms. Results indicated a C. burnetii prevalence of 26.1% (screening titre 1∶16), and prevalence rates of 11.9% and 14.9% (screening titre 1∶100) for spotted fever group and typhus group rickettsiae, respectively. There was a significant spatial association between C. burnetii exposure and place of residence in southern Namibia (P<0.021). Donors with occupations involving animals (P>0.012), especially cattle (P>0.006), were also significantly associated with C. burnetii exposure. Males were significantly more likely than females to have been exposed to spotted fever (P<0.013) and typhus (P<0.011) group rickettsiae. Three (2.9%) samples were positive for B. henselae possibly indicating low levels of exposure to a pathogen never reported in Namibia.Conclusions/SignificanceThese results indicate that Namibians are exposed to pathogenic fever-causing bacteria, most of which have flea or tick vectors/reservoirs. The epidemiology of febrile illnesses in Namibia needs further evaluation in order to develop comprehensive local diagnostic and treatment algorithms.

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“…ATBF is a benign disease; nevertheless, a more severe course was described in elderly populations (364,365), and some complications, such as subacute cranial or peripheral neuropathy and chronic fatigue (364,388), internuclear ophthalmoplegia (381), myocarditis (364,376), and cellulitis, have been reported (365). One coinfection with Leishmania tropica was reported after travel to Botswana (389), and one with Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, was reported after a trip to the Gambia (375). Recently, comparative genome analysis may have explained the low virulence level of R. africae in humans and its strong adaptation to its tick host.…”

Section: Sub-saharan Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach

et al. 2013

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SUMMARY Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia . These zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. However, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. Several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that were considered nonpathogenic for decades are now associated with human infections, and novel Rickettsia species of undetermined pathogenicity continue to be detected in or isolated from ticks around the world. This remarkable expansion of information has been driven largely by the use of molecular techniques that have facilitated the identification of novel and previously recognized rickettsiae in ticks. New approaches, such as swabbing of eschars to obtain material to be tested by PCR, have emerged in recent years and have played a role in describing emerging tick-borne rickettsioses. Here, we present the current knowledge on tick-borne rickettsiae and rickettsioses using a geographic approach toward the epidemiology of these diseases.

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Cutaneous leishmaniasis and rickettsial African tick‐bite fever: a combination of exotic traveler’s diseases in the same patient

Abstract: Thus, our patient had two tropical diseases simultaneously.

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

Rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers (2004–2013)

Rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers (2004–2013)

Exposure and Risk Factors to Coxiella burnetii, Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsiae, and Bartonella henselae among Volunteer Blood Donors in Namibia

Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach

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