Update on spotted fever group Rickettsiae in South Africa.
Until very recently, Mediterranean spotted fever caused by Rickettsia conorii was the only spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses recognized in southern Africa. However, increasing medical awareness of tick-borne infections, together with the introduction of improved isolation methods and the availability of molecular techniques, have led to the identification of several new SFG rickettsioses in the region. African tick bite fever, caused by Rickettsia africae, is currently the most important of these new rickettsioses, affecting large numbers of international travellers each year, but infections due to Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia mongolotimonae have also been recently encountered. In this review, we describe the current status of the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of SFG rickettsioses in southern Africa.
Pretorius
Anne-Marié
AM
National Health Laboratory Services, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. gnvramp.md@mail.uovs.ac.za
Jensenius
Mogens
M
Birtles
Richard J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D020114:Rickettsia conorii; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013983:Tick Control
D000962:Antimalarials