title: Urban family cluster of spotted fever rickettsiosis linked to Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii subsp. caspia and Rickettsia massiliae.
abstract: Here, we report an epidemiological and entomological investigation of a cluster of cases of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis occurring in southern France. A family of 3 (husband, wife, and their son) presented with symptoms compatible with SFG rickettsiosis. For 2 patients, serum samples presented increased levels of IgM and IgG for SFG Rickettsia. The patients' home was investigated, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were collected from the floor from behind the furniture. Of 22 ticks collected, 20 tested positive for Rickettsia. As Rh. sanguineus serves as a vector for both Rickettsia conorii and Ri. massiliae in southern France, all Rh. sanguineus isolates were tested by real-time PCR and conventional PCR to detect the 2 species. Nine ticks tested positive for Ri. conorii subsp. caspia (marking the first documentation of this subspecies in France), 7 tested positive for Ri. massiliae, and 4 tested positive for both rickettsiae. This study is the first report of coinfection of Rh. sanguineus ticks with Ri. conorii and Ri. massiliae in southern France.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod Borne Bacterial Diseases, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renvoisé
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delaunay
authors.forename: Elea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanchouin
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cannavo
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cua
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Socolovschi
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology*; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M