Dermacentor-borne necrosis erythema and lymphadenopathy: clinical and epidemiological features of a new tick-borne disease

Abstract

This paper describes the epidemiological and clinical features of a tick-borne disease differing somewhat from other tick-borne diseases found previously in Spain. All patients were bitten by Dermacentor marginatus or a large tick. The clinical features include a crustaceous or necrotic lesion at the site of the tick's attachment, surrounded by an erythema (erythema migrans-like) and painful regional lymphadenopathies. The probable aetiological agent is Rickettsia slovaca. Similar cases have been reported in other European countries.

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks, Morocco

“…Low-grade fever and rash were present. The acute disease can be followed by fatigue and residual alopecia at the bite site (16,21 (22). In this group, tickborne lymphadenopathy occurred mainly in young children and women and during the colder months (22).…”

Update on tick-borne bacterial diseases in Europe

“…Recently, other etiological agents for several cases of TIBOLA/DEBONEL syndrome were confirmed as Bartonella henselae, Francisella tularensis, and probably as Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The authors proposed the name SENLAT for this syndrome: scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite (Angelakis et al, 2009b;Oteo et al, 2004).…”

Rickettsiosis as Threat for the Traveller

“…Other typical manifestation, which is always present when the bite is on the head, is the presence of regional and very painful lymphadenopathies. On the contrary of other rickettsioses, in DEBONEL/TIBOLA there are not systemic clinical signs (or they are rare), such as fever or maculo-papular rash (Oteo et al, 2004b). The clinical course is sub-acute and no severe complications have been described.…”