title: Demonstration of spotted fever group rickettsiae in the tache noire of a healthy person in Sicily.
abstract: A human case of rickettsial infection occurred in Sicily following tick bite. The patient did not have fever, the typical nodular rash, or other symptoms of illness other than development of a tache noire containing spotted fever group rickettsiae, which were demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A high titer of antibodies of the IgG class suggests that the patient may have had previous exposure to Rickettsia conorii or a related spotted fever group rickettsia. An anamnestic response may be hypothesized to have conferred partial immunity, with resulting containment of rickettsiae at the site of inoculation.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012288:Rickettsiaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012802:Sicily; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial