title: Severe spotted fever group rickettsiosis, Australia.
abstract: We report 3 cases of spotted fever group rickettsial infection (presumed Queensland tick typhus) in residents of northern Queensland, Australia, who had unusually severe clinical manifestations. Complications included renal failure, purpura fulminans, and severe pneumonia. Clinical illness caused by Rickettsia australis may not be as benign as previously described.
authors.affiliation: James Cook University, School of Medicine, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. john.mcbride@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: William J H
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: Joshua P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wenck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology