Rickettsial Diseases - RICKETTSIALPOX

(Vesicular Rickettsiosis, Kew Gardens Spotted Fever)

AGENT:

Rickettsia akari

RESERVOIR AND INCIDENCE

House mouse is reservoir host; most commonly seen in rodent infested urban dwellings, (New York City and other Eastern U.S. cities). Rats and moles can also harbor the organism. Not identified as a natural disease in laboratory rodents.

TRANSMISSION:

Mite, Allodermanyssus sanguineus, transmits to mice or to man. Lab infections in humans via respiratory route have occurred but lab infections due to mite bite have not been reported.

DISEASE IN ANIMALS:

Not known in wild animals. In experimental mice death follows pneumonia.

DISEASE IN MAN:

Illness lasting about a week is associated with an eschar which develops at the site of the mite bite, regional lymphadenopathy and fever. A vesicular rash over the body and limbs develops within 1-4 days.

DIAGNOSIS:

Leukopenia and a rise in antibody titer with rickettsial antigen in CF tests. However, the Weil-Felix test is negative.

TREATMENT:

Tetracycline

PREVENTION/CONTROL:

Eliminate wild mice. Control mites

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

http://www.cfsresearch.org/rickettsia/