Top

BMC Infectious Diseases

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Tick | Case report

Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection: a case report from southeast Iran

Authors: Mina Latifian, Mohammad Khalili, Mehrdad Farrokhnia, Ehsan Mostafavi, Saber Esmaeili

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is a zoonotic and vector-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii. We report a case (36 year-old-woman) of MSF caused by Rickettsia conorii from Iran.

Case presentation

In September 2019, the patient was admitted to the hospital in Kerman province with flu-like symptoms and maculopapular lesions. According to the laboratory results, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and cardiac enzymes were observed. Skin biopsy was examined for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and MSF using the Real-Time-PCR and ELISA method. Finally, the sample was positive for Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis and treated with doxycycline and completely recovered.

Conclusions

This study showed that MSF could be present in Iran. Therefore, identifying endemic areas in Iran for this disease should be on the agenda.

Rovery C, Raoult D. Mediterranean spotted fever. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2008;22(3):515–30.CrossRef

Parola P, et al. Update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2013;26(4):657–702.CrossRef

Herrador Z, et al. Mediterranean spotted fever in Spain, 1997–2014: epidemiological situation based on hospitalization records. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0174745.CrossRef

Leone S, et al. Retinopathy in Rickettsia conorii infection: case report in an immunocompetent host. Infection. 2008;36(4):384–6.CrossRef

Papa A, et al. Fatal Mediterranean spotted fever in Greece. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010;16(6):589–92.CrossRef

Farrokhnia M, et al. Cases of Mediterranean spotted fever in southeast of Iran. Iran J Microbiol. 2020;12(3):256.PubMedPubMedCentral

Giulieri S, et al. Development of a duplex real time PCR for the detection of Rickettsia spp. and typhus group rickettsia in clinical samples. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2012;64(1):92–7.CrossRef

Labruna MB, et al. Molecular evidence for a spotted fever group Rickettsia species in the tick Amblyomma longirostre in Brazil. J Med Entomol. 2004;41(3):533–7.CrossRef

Novakova M, et al. Rickettsia vini n. sp. (Rickettsiaceae) infecting the tick Ixodes arboricola (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasites Vectors. 2016;9(1):1–8.CrossRef

10.

Mouffok N, et al. Mediterranean spotted fever in Algeria—new trends. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13(2):227–35.CrossRef

11.

Chai JT, et al. Fatal Israeli spotted fever in a UK traveler to South Portugal. J Travel Med. 2008;15(2):122–3.CrossRef

12.

Zemtsova G, et al. Co-feeding as a route for transmission of Rickettsia conorii israelensis between Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Exp Appl Acarol. 2010;52(4):383–92.CrossRef

13.

Boillat N, et al. Fatal case of Israeli spotted fever after Mediterranean cruise. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14(12):1944.CrossRef

14.

Giammanco GM, et al. Presence of Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis, the causative agent of Israeli spotted fever, in Sicily, Italy, ascertained in a retrospective study. J Clin Microbiol. 2005;43(12):6027–31.CrossRef

15.

Kuloglu F, et al. First isolation of Rickettsia conorii from humans in the Trakya (European) region of Turkey. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2004;23(8):609–14.CrossRef

16.

Kuloglu F, et al. Mediterranean spotted fever in the Trakya region of Turkey. Ticks Tick-borne Dis. 2012;3(5–6):298–304.CrossRef

17.

Baltadzhiev IG, Popivanova NI. Some epidemiological features of the Mediterranean spotted fever re-emerging in Bulgaria. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2012;54(1):36–43.CrossRef

Title: Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection: a case report from southeast Iran
Authors: Mina Latifian
Mohammad Khalili
Mehrdad Farrokhnia
Ehsan Mostafavi
Saber Esmaeili
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Tick
Doxycycline
Rickettsia
Thrombocytopenia
Tick
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07291-9

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection: a case report from southeast Iran

Abstract

Background

Case presentation

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

Incentivised to exercise

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Case presentation

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2022

Secondary respiratory early and late infections in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19

Epidemiology and outcomes associated with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a retrospective cohort study

Tuberculosis treatment adherence in the era of COVID-19

Molecular evaluation of hepatitis B virus infection and predominant mutations of pre-core, basal core promoter and S regions in an Iranian population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case–control study

Investigation on an outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in a county of Shandong Province, China, 2021

Clinical features and 18F-FDG PET/CT for distinguishing of malignant lymphoma from inflammatory lymphadenopathy in HIV-infected patients

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

Incentivised to exercise

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page