1,849 results match your criteria: "Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever"
Article Synopsis
- * Between July 2023 and January 2024, California reported six RMSF cases linked to exposure in Tecate, Mexico, raising concerns as it was previously not identified as a high-risk area, and three of these cases were fatal.
- * Effective detection of RMSF cases necessitated collaborative efforts among various public health agencies, highlighting the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers to enable quicker diagnoses and treatments on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Tick-Borne Diseases and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review Evaluating Pregnancy Complications Caused by Tick-Borne Diseases.
Trop Med Infect Dis
October 2024
Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Article Synopsis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe tickborne disease that can reach epidemic proportions in communities with certain social and ecologic risk factors. In some areas, the case-fatality rate of brown dog tick-associated RMSF is up to 50%. Because of the spread of brown dog tick-associated RMSF in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the disease has the potential to emerge and become endemic in other communities that have large populations of free-roaming dogs, brown dog ticks, limited resources, and low provider awareness of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica subsp. nov., the etiologic agent of Pacific Coast tick fever.
J Infect Dis
October 2024
Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
The etiologic agent of Pacific Coast tick fever (PCTF), a moderately severe tickborne illness that resembles Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), was first isolated in 1966 from specimens of Dermacentor occidentalis (the Pacific Coast tick) obtained in California. For several decades, this bacterium was identified ambiguously as the unclassified spotted fever group Rickettsia species 364-D, Rickettsia 364, or Rickettsia philipii. However, none of these epithets satisfied criteria of formal bacterial nomenclature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) causes significant illness and death in children. Although historically rare in California, USA, RMSF is endemic in areas of northern Mexico that border California. We describe 7 children with RMSF who were hospitalized at a tertiary pediatric referral center in California during 2017-2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRocky Mountain Spotted Fever Encephalitis and "Starry Sky" Pattern on MRI: A Case Report.
Neurologist
October 2024
Departments of Neurology.
Article Synopsis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a serious illness caused by a tick-borne bacterium, Rickettsia rickettsii, that can cause neurological symptoms like altered consciousness, fever, and rashes.
- A 61-year-old woman initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection rapidly deteriorated to a comatose state with distinctive MRI findings and a rash, leading to a diagnosis of RMSF encephalitis.
- This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing RMSF encephalitis in patients with fever, confusion, and specific MRI patterns, as timely diagnosis is crucial for treatment decisions.
The potential use of arginine kinase from the brown tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus as a biomarker for vector exposure in the surveillance of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Rev Argent Microbiol
December 2024
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas Núm. 46, Ejido a La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora 83304, Mexico.
Article Synopsis
- The brown dog tick is a key vector for Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in parts of Mexico and the Southwestern U.S.
- Researchers found that a tick protein, arginine kinase (AK), could be used to identify areas with high RMSF risk by measuring immune responses in human and animal sera.
- By mutating a specific part of the AK protein, they confirmed its importance as a marker for RMSF exposure, paving the way for new methods in tracking tick presence and preventing the disease.
Development of inducible promoter and CRISPRi plasmids functional in .
J Bacteriol
October 2024
Host-Parasite Interactions Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA.
Article Synopsis
- *Unlabelled* is a bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but research is hampered by challenges in studying it within host cells.
- The authors developed a new inducible promoter system that can control gene expression, allowing researchers to safely study genes that may be toxic if turned on constantly.
- They also created a CRISPR interference system to selectively silence specific genes, improving the genetic tools available for studying this pathogen and potentially others.*
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: A Call to Action.
Am J Trop Med Hyg
November 2024
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Article Synopsis
- * A scientific symposium held from November 8-10, 2023, brought together experts from academia and health authorities to discuss RMSF challenges and potential solutions.
- * The One Health approach is emphasized as a key strategy to enhance surveillance, diagnosis, and prevention efforts to combat RMSF effectively in Mexico.
Foetal outcome of Leptospira and Rickettsial infections during pregnancy: a systematic review.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
December 2024
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, West Bengal, India741245.
Article Synopsis
- Leptospirosis and rickettsial infections, including scrub typhus, are bacterial diseases that can severely affect pregnant women and their babies, leading to overlapping symptoms.* -
- A study analyzed 54 research papers to evaluate the effects of these infections on fetal outcomes, revealing significant cases of fetal loss and maternal deaths associated with scrub typhus and leptospirosis.* -
- The findings highlight the need for more research to understand these infections better and develop strategies to protect pregnant women and improve outcomes for their infants.*
Factors associated with the confirmation and death for Brazilian spotted fever in an important endemic area of the State of São Paulo, 2007-2021.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop
July 2024
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on identifying factors that predict case confirmation and mortality from Brazilian spotted fever in Southeastern Brazil from 2007 to 2021.
- It found that confirmed cases were more likely in males aged 40-59, those exposed to ticks or certain animals, and who showed specific symptoms, with hospitalization being a key factor.
- A longer delay between symptom onset and hospitalization, along with shorter treatment durations, was linked to higher mortality, highlighting the importance of thorough clinical evaluations for early diagnosis and prevention.
A Mini-Review of Diagnostic Methods for the Antigen and Antibody Detection of Rocky Mountain and Brazilian Spotted Fever.
Biomedicines
July 2024
Programas de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia (PPGBIOTEC) e Multicêntrico em Bioquimica e Biologia Molecular (PMBqBM), Disciplina Biotecnologia & Inovações, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Article Synopsis
- - Rocky Mountain or Brazilian spotted fever is a serious yet often overlooked disease predominantly found in specific areas of North and South America, highlighting the need for quick detection to improve patient outcomes.
- - The review assessed various methods for detecting antibodies and antigens associated with the disease, revealing a total of 403 initial studies, but only 17 met the criteria for inclusion.
- - The Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) was the most commonly used method, though it showed low specificity, and while techniques like ELISA and immunohistochemistry were noted, they also had limitations, underscoring the urgent need for better diagnostic methods.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a neglected tropical disease in Latin America.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
July 2024
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Article Synopsis
- * Historically, RMSF has received less attention compared to other diseases, leading to inadequate resources and prevention efforts in endemic areas.
- * Recognizing RMSF as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) could drive greater public policy interest, improve resource allocation, and enhance prevention efforts, ultimately reducing its impact on affected communities.
Tick-Borne Illnesses in Emergency and Wilderness Medicine.
Emerg Med Clin North Am
August 2024
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 6th Floor, Suite 200, 110 South Paca Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- The review focuses on the main tick-borne illnesses in the U.S., including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and others, detailing their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
- It covers prevention strategies to avoid tick bites and offers guidance on how to safely remove ticks.
- The text emphasizes the importance of awareness and education regarding these diseases for better health outcomes.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever contracted along a Canadian road trip: A case report.
SAGE Open Med Case Rep
June 2024
Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, and The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Article Synopsis
- - Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a serious tick-borne illness, is spreading beyond its usual regions due to climate change, as shown by a case involving a 73-year-old woman who contracted it while traveling in Canada.
- - Initially treated for pneumonia with moxifloxacin, her condition was reevaluated and shifted to doxycycline after symptoms pointed towards Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which was later confirmed.
- - The disease's spread is believed to be connected to changing weather patterns, such as milder winters and more intense dry summers, which support tick population growth and pathogen development.
Evaluating the circulation of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp. in domestic dogs from a semiarid region in Brazil.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports
July 2024
Núcleo de Estudo e Pesquisa em Animais Silvestres - NEPAS, Mestrado em Biotecnologia - Centro Universitário INTA - UNINTA, Rua José Lopes Ponte, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, Ceará, CEP: 60.050-100, Brazil. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Tick-borne diseases pose serious health risks to both animals and humans, with Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) being significant concerns in canine and human populations.
- A study conducted in Ceará State, Brazil, sampled 208 dogs to assess the presence of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp., and identified the tick species infesting these dogs.
- Findings showed a higher infection rate of E. canis in Sobral (9.9%) compared to Alcântaras (5.6%), with Rhipicephalus sanguineus as the most common tick species, and indicated a low risk of exposure to Rickettsia
Article Synopsis
- The text discusses five children in Sonora, Mexico who developed Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and showed symptoms resembling multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
- It highlights the importance of recognizing RMSF as a possible diagnosis for patients displaying these symptoms, especially in areas where the disease is common.
- The aim is to raise awareness among physicians to help prevent serious health issues and fatalities related to rickettsial diseases.
Article Synopsis
- * A new rickettsial pathogen, Rickettsia sp. CA6269, was identified in two patients in northern California, causing severe illness similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- * The study highlights potential misidentification of Rickettsia sp. CA6269 as R. rickettsii due to cross-reactivity in diagnostic tests and introduces a specific real-time PCR for accurate detection and understanding of this emerging pathogen.
Seroprevalence of Spp. and in Indigenous Populations from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
October 2024
Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the seroprevalence of Rickettsial species in two indigenous communities in Colombia, revealing an overall seroprevalence of 26.2% for Spotted Fever Group (SFG) and lower percentages for Typhus Group (TG) and Scrub Typhus.
- Increased risk of SFG seropositivity was associated with participants involved in livestock care, particularly during farming activities like assisting with births.
- The findings indicate significant exposure to these zoonotic pathogens, suggesting a need for enhanced awareness and research on rickettsial infections in rural Colombia, amidst concerns over serious outcomes like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
An Abnormal Presentation of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: A Case Report.
Cureus
March 2024
Primary Care/Internal Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a serious illness caused by coccobacilli bacteria, transmitted through tick bites, with typical symptoms including fever, headache, and a rash that spreads from limbs to torso.
- A case study of a 29-year-old male who showed altered mental status and hypertensive crisis without the classic symptoms highlights the complexity of diagnosing RMSF.
- The patient was treated with medications, and after three days of observation, testing confirmed RMSF, emphasizing the importance of considering tick-borne illnesses even when common symptoms are absent.
A compartment and metapopulation model of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Infect Dis Model
September 2024
School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a serious tick-borne disease that has become widespread in western North America, especially along the US-Mexico border.
- The brown dog tick plays a crucial role in transmitting RMSF between dogs and humans, and the disease's spread now shows epidemic patterns rather than sporadic occurrences.
- A new metapopulation model was developed to analyze RMSF dynamics, revealing that a significant delay occurs between pathogen introduction and epidemic transmission, with large dog populations being key to maintaining and spreading the disease.
A mutation associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroids is widespread in US populations of the tropical lineage of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis
July 2024
Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., is a significant carrier of Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, prompting public health measures to control tick infestations around homes and on pets.
- Current control strategies primarily rely on acaricides, particularly synthetic pyrethroids, but many ticks have developed resistance to these chemicals, complicating prevention efforts.
- Researchers used advanced sequencing techniques to study genetic variations associated with acaricide resistance in different lineages of the tick, finding a specific genetic mutation tied to resistance that was commonly found in tropical lineage ticks across various locations in the US.
Fever and Rash.
Emerg Med Clin North Am
May 2024
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Box 0209, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Infectious causes of fever and rash are tricky for emergency providers to diagnose since some rashes can signal serious infections while others are harmless.
- Accurate diagnosis requires a thorough patient history and complete skin examination, as many serious cases are based on clinical observations.
- Doctors often need to start provisional treatment, like antibiotics and supportive care, before lab results come back to address potential life-threatening conditions quickly.
Tick-Borne Diseases.
Emerg Med Clin North Am
May 2024
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine, Room 469, COME, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Article Synopsis
- * The risk of tick-borne diseases (TBD) varies by geographic location, and most disease transmission requires ticks to be attached for 24 to 48 hours.
- * Many patients don’t remember being bitten by a tick, and TBDs are often misdiagnosed as viral illnesses; however, they are typically treatable if diagnosed early.
Neurological manifestation of Brazilian spotted fever in childhood.
Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo
March 2024
Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Hospital Infantil João Paulo II, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Article Synopsis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) in Brazil, is a disease caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii and is the most significant tick-borne disease there.
- While it primarily affects adults, only 5% of cases occur in young children aged one to nine years.
- The study focuses on a specific infant case of BSF who exhibited severe neurological symptoms, including seizures and loss of language abilities.