Rickettsia parkeri infections diagnosed by eschar biopsy, Virginia, USA.
Infection
; 46(4): 559-563, 2018 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29383651
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Infection with Rickettsia parkeri is an emerging tick-borne illness, often accompanied by fever and an eschar at the site of tick attachment. We present three cases of R. parkeri in Virginia residents. CASE PRESENTATIONS Case 1 presented initially afebrile, failed to seroconvert to rickettsial antigens, and was diagnosed by DNA testing of the eschar. Case 2 presented febrile with eschar, no serologies were performed, and was diagnosed by DNA testing of the eschar. Case 3 presented febrile with eschar, serologies were negative for rickettsial antigens, and was diagnosed by DNA testing of the eschar.CONCLUSION:
DNA testing of eschars represents an under-utilized diagnostic test and may aid in cases where the diagnosis is not made clinically.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rickettsia
/
Rickettsia Infections
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Year:
2018
Type:
Article