title: Endemic scrub typhus-like illness, Chile.
abstract: We report a case of scrub typhus in a 54-year-old man who was bitten by several terrestrial leeches during a trip to Chiloé Island in southern Chile in 2006. A molecular sample, identified as related to Orientia tsutsugamushi based on the sequence of the16S rRNA gene, was obtained from a biopsy specimen of the eschar on the patient's leg. Serologic analysis showed immunoglobulin G conversion against O. tsutsugamushi whole cell antigen. This case and its associated molecular analyses suggest that an Orientia-like agent is present in the Western Hemisphere that can produce scrub typhus-like illness. The molecular analysis suggests that the infectious agent is closely related, although not identical, to members of the Orientia sp. from Asia.
authors: School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: M Elvira
authors: ME
authors: Balcells
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Rabagliati
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: García
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Poggi
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Oddó
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Concha
authors: Katia
authors: K
authors: Abarca
authors: Ju
authors: J
authors: Jiang
authors: Daryl J
authors: DJ
authors: Kelly
authors: Allen L
authors: AL
authors: Richards
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Fuerst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches / Q000382:microbiology; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S