The case of Mediterranean spotted fever of the traveler returned from Zambia

• Published in: Ticks and tick-borne diseases Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 102347
• Main Authors: Ichikawa, Takahiro, Qiu, Yongjin, Ando, Shuji, Takeuchi, Yuto, Nagasaka, Atsushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier GmbH 01.07.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; boutonneuse fever; Boutonneuse Fever - diagnosis; Boutonneuse Fever - drug therapy; Boutonneuse Fever - microbiology; case studies; doxycycline; Doxycycline - therapeutic use; fever; headache; hospitals; Humans; Male; pathogens; patients; polymerase chain reaction; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Rhipicephalus sanguineus - microbiology; Rickettsia conorii; Rickettsia conorii - genetics; Rickettsia conorii - isolation & purification; Rickettsioses; Spotted Fever Group; Tick-Borne diseases; Travel; Zambia; Zambia, Rickettsia infection; Zambia; Spotted Fever Group; Rickettsioses; Rickettsia conorii; Zambia, Rickettsia infection; Tick-Borne diseases
• ISSN: 1877-959X; 1877-9603; 1877-9603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102347

We report the case of a traveler who returned from Zambia and was diagnosed with Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), an infectious disease caused by Rickettsia conorii conorii. The patient presented to Sapporo City General Hospital with symptoms of fever, malaise, headache, and rash. The pathogen was identified by Polymerase Chain Reaction assays and subsequent analyses. The patient improved with 10-day treatment of oral doxycycline. Although some cases of MSF have been reported in sub-Saharan Africa, none have been reported in Zambia. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, the vector of the Rickettsia conorii conorii, has been found in various areas of Zambia. Our case report highlights the potential threat of Mediterranean spotted fever in urban areas of Zambia.