Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis, Argentina

Abstract

Rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified cause of spotted fever rickettsiosis in the United States, has been found in Amblyomma triste ticks in several countries of South America, including Argentina, where it is believed to cause disease in humans. We describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of 2 patients in Argentina with confirmed R. parkeri infection and 7 additional patients with suspected R. parkeri rickettsiosis identified at 1 hospital during 2004–2009. The frequency and character of clinical signs and symptoms among these 9 patients closely resembled those described for patients in the United States (presence of an inoculation eschar, maculopapular rash often associated with pustules or vesicles, infrequent gastrointestinal manifestations, and relatively benign clinical course). Many R. parkeri infections in South America are likely to be misdiagnosed as other infectious diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, dengue, or leptospirosis.

Spotted fever group Rickettsia infecting ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

“…Although this hypothesis has not been confirmed, it is noteworthy that we found the pathogenic strain Atlantic rainforest in SC, where it is potentially transmitted to humans by the ticks A. ovale and A. aureolatum; this second species is also an important human-biting tick in Brazil (Guglielmone et al 2006). Interestingly, another pathogenic strain of R. parkeri is transmitted by the tick Amblyomma triste in Uruguay and Argentina (Venzal et al 2004, Romer et al 2011; however, this tick species is not known to be present in SC.…”

Diagnosis and Management of Tickborne Rickettsial Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Ehrlichioses, and Anaplasmosis — United States

“…For example, R. rickettsii infection can be acquired in Canada and Mexico, as well as in Central America and South America, where cases are reported from Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina (253)(254)(255)(256)(257)(258)(259)(260). R. parkeri infections have been described in Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina (38,253,261,262). Human anaplasmosis has been reported from several countries throughout Europe (263), as well as from several Asian countries, including China, Korea, Russia, and Japan (264)(265)(266)(267).…”

Aproximación clínica y principales rickettsiosis transmitidas por garrapatas presentes en Latinoamérica

“…han sido resumidas en sendos artículos 36,37 . En Latinoamérica se han comunicado casos humanos en Uruguay, Argentina y Brasil [38][39] .…”

“…Posteriormente, se identificó R. parkeri mediante técnicas de RPC en A. triste recolectadas en la misma área geográfica 46 . Recientemente, se han comunicado nueve casos sospechosos entre 2004 y 2009, en dos de los cuales se pudo confirmar la presencia de R. parkeri por RPC de la escara 39 . Todos tenían antecedentes de picadura de garrapata durante actividades recreativas o laborales.…”

“…Además de las manifestaciones bien conocidas y comunes para todas las rickettsiosis, como cefalea, mialgias, artralgias, se observó en algunos casos odinofagia, diarrea, fotofobia e inyección conjuntival. Todos presentaron un curso relativamente benigno recuperándose tras la terapia con doxiciclina 39 . En ese país las picaduras por garrapatas se producen principalmente entre agosto y noviembre, época en que los ejemplares adultos son relativamente abundantes y buscan alimento 47 .…”