rickettsialpox

Only biting larvae of Asian scrub typhus chiggers (Leptotrombidium species) transmit scrub typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (formerly Rickettsia tsutsugamushi); and only biting house mouse mites (Liponyssoides sanguineus) transmit rickettsialpox caused by Rickettsia akari.

The house-mouse mite, Liponyssoides sanguineus, maintains a rickettsial zoonosis in its preferred house mouse (Mus musculus) reservoir, and can transmit rickettsialpox caused by Rickettsia akari through bites.

Rickettsialpox is an illness characterized by fever, headache, papulovesicular rash over the trunk and extremities, and, in 80% of cases, appearance of an eschar.

The clinical manifestations were those of a typical rickettsiosis: all patients had fever and myalgia; but the skin lesions, instead of a rash, were similar to those described for rickettsialpox. In addition, for 3 patients, central nervous system involvement developed, manifested as photophobia, hearing loss, and signs of meningitis (33).

Rocky Mountain spotted fever, murine typhuslike disease, rickettsialpox, typhus, and Q fever.

However, not a single case of rickettsialpox or other SFG rickettsiosis has been documented in South Korea.

They write, "These finding suggested that several kinds of rickettsial diseases, including boutonneuse fever, rickettsialpox, R.

The concentration of humans in close proximity to house mice and their mites are factors that could contribute to an increase in rickettsialpox in the region.

These findings suggest that several kinds of rickettsial diseases, including boutonneuse fever, rickettsialpox, R.

felts is the only other spotted fever group rickettsia documented to cause human disease (1,12), whereas in the United States rickettsialpox also causes rickettsiosis of this group.

To the Editor: Rickettsialpox is often described as a chickenpox-like disease and is caused by Rickettsia akari, a spotted fever group Rickettsia that is transmitted to humans by the bite of mites (Liponyssoides sanguineus).

We report a case of rickettsialpox from North Carolina confirmed by serologic testing.