Rickettsia helvetica | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
Order: | Rickettsiales |
Family: | Rickettsiaceae |
Genus: | Rickettsia |
Species group: | Spotted fever group |
Species: | R. helvetica
|
Binomial name | |
Rickettsia helvetica Beati, Peter, Burgdorfer, Aeschlirnami & Raoult, 1993
[1]
|
Rickettsia helvetica, [2] previously known as the Swiss agent, is a bacterium found in Dermacentor reticulatus and other ticks, which has been implicated as a suspected but unconfirmed human pathogen. [3] [4] [5] First recognized in 1979 in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Switzerland (hence the designation helvetica) as a new member of the spotted fever group of Rickettsia, the R. helvetica bacterium was eventually isolated in 1993. [6] Although R. helvetica was initially thought to be harmless in humans and many animal species, some individual case reports suggest that it may be capable of causing a nonspecific fever in humans. [4] [5] [7] In 1997, a man living in eastern France seroconverted to Rickettsia 4 weeks after onset of an unexplained febrile illness. [8] In 2010, a case report indicated that tick-borne R. helvetica can also cause meningitis in humans. [9]
Molecular evidence suggests that in Croatia, as many as 10% of D. reticulatus ticks are infected with R. helvetica. [10] In addition to this, R. slovaca [11] is found in another 2%, and 1% are infected with both species. [12]
Erythema migrans or rash was observed at all combinations of seroreactivity, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, headache, and respiratory problems. [13]
The spots ( erythema migrans) are described as red spots, much lesser in size than those seen in Lyme disease, but sometimes no spots occur at all. [14]
In 80 healthy Swedish blood donors, about 1% were seroreactive for Rickettsia spp., interpreted as past infection. In a prospective study of Swedish recruits who trained in the coastal areas, 8.9% showed seroconversion [13]
As with other rickettsioses, the treatment of choice is doxycycline [15]
Rickettsia helvetica | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
Order: | Rickettsiales |
Family: | Rickettsiaceae |
Genus: | Rickettsia |
Species group: | Spotted fever group |
Species: | R. helvetica
|
Binomial name | |
Rickettsia helvetica Beati, Peter, Burgdorfer, Aeschlirnami & Raoult, 1993
[1]
|
Rickettsia helvetica, [2] previously known as the Swiss agent, is a bacterium found in Dermacentor reticulatus and other ticks, which has been implicated as a suspected but unconfirmed human pathogen. [3] [4] [5] First recognized in 1979 in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Switzerland (hence the designation helvetica) as a new member of the spotted fever group of Rickettsia, the R. helvetica bacterium was eventually isolated in 1993. [6] Although R. helvetica was initially thought to be harmless in humans and many animal species, some individual case reports suggest that it may be capable of causing a nonspecific fever in humans. [4] [5] [7] In 1997, a man living in eastern France seroconverted to Rickettsia 4 weeks after onset of an unexplained febrile illness. [8] In 2010, a case report indicated that tick-borne R. helvetica can also cause meningitis in humans. [9]
Molecular evidence suggests that in Croatia, as many as 10% of D. reticulatus ticks are infected with R. helvetica. [10] In addition to this, R. slovaca [11] is found in another 2%, and 1% are infected with both species. [12]
Erythema migrans or rash was observed at all combinations of seroreactivity, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, headache, and respiratory problems. [13]
The spots ( erythema migrans) are described as red spots, much lesser in size than those seen in Lyme disease, but sometimes no spots occur at all. [14]
In 80 healthy Swedish blood donors, about 1% were seroreactive for Rickettsia spp., interpreted as past infection. In a prospective study of Swedish recruits who trained in the coastal areas, 8.9% showed seroconversion [13]
As with other rickettsioses, the treatment of choice is doxycycline [15]