Isolation of Rickettsia akari from eschars of patients with rickettsialpox.
Rickettsialpox is a cosmopolitan, mite-borne, spotted fever rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia akari. The disease is characterized by a primary eschar, fever, and a papulovesicular rash. Rickettsialpox was first identified in New York City in 1946 and the preponderance of recognized cases in the United States continues to originate from this large metropolitan center. The most recently isolated U.S. strain of R. akari was obtained more than a half century ago. We describe the culture and initial characterization of five contemporaneous isolates of R. akari obtained from eschar biopsy specimens from New York City patients with rickettsialpox. This work emphasizes the importance and utility of culture-and molecular-based methods for the diagnosis of rickettsialpox and other eschar-associated illnesses.
Paddock
Christopher D
CD
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch and Infectious Disease Pathology Activity, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. CPaddock@cdc.gov
Koss
Tamara
T
Eremeeva
Marina E
ME
Dasch
Gregory A
GA
Zaki
Sherif R
SR
Sumner
John W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D041141:Rickettsia akari / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012288:Rickettsiaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G