Clusters of Mediterranean spotted fever in Israel

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) usually occurs as sporadic cases. We report five clusters of MSF in Israel. Each cluster consisted of two to three patients. In two clusters, one patient died while the other recovered. In the other three clusters the patients presented with a benign course of the d...

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Published inVector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vol. 7; no. 2; p. 143
Main Authors Keysary, Avi, Potasman, Israel, Itzhaki, Avi, Finkelstein, Renato, Yitzhaki, Shmuel, Strenger, Carmela, Rzotkiewicz, Sabine, Leitner, Moshe
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.2007
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Arachnid Vectors - microbiology
Boutonneuse Fever - epidemiology
Child
Cluster Analysis
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Dogs - microbiology
Dogs - parasitology
Fatal Outcome
Female
Humans
Israel - epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rickettsia conorii - isolation & purification
Ticks - microbiology
Israel
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Summary:Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) usually occurs as sporadic cases. We report five clusters of MSF in Israel. Each cluster consisted of two to three patients. In two clusters, one patient died while the other recovered. In the other three clusters the patients presented with a benign course of the disease. The diagnosis of MSF in the fatal cases was confirmed by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests performed on samples obtained from internal organs. Rickettsial DNA was also found in a tick obtained from a dog owned by one of the patients. MSF was diagnosed in the recovered patients by serology. The diagnosis of MSF fever in one family member should raise the awareness to the possibility of other cases in the vicinity.
ISSN:1530-3667
DOI:10.1089/vbz.2006.0563