Rare Case of Rickettsiosis Caused by Rickettsia monacensis, Portugal, 2021

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 May;28(5):1068-1071. doi: 10.3201/eid2805.211836.

Abstract

We report a case of rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia monacensis in an immunocompetent 67-year-old man in Portugal who had eschar, erythematous rash, and an attached Ixodes ricinus tick. Seroconversion and eschar biopsy led to confirmed diagnosis by PCR. Physicians should be aware of this rare rickettsiosis, especially in geographic regions with the vector.

Keywords: IRS3; IRS4,IrR/Munich; IrITA2; IrITA3; Ixodes ricinus; Portugal; Rickettsia monacensis; bacteria; eschar; molecular detection; rash; rickettsia; rickettsiosis; tick-borne disease; ticks; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Ixodes* / microbiology
  • Male
  • Portugal
  • Rickettsia Infections* / diagnosis
  • Rickettsia Infections* / drug therapy
  • Rickettsia Infections* / microbiology
  • Rickettsia* / genetics

Supplementary concepts

  • Rickettsia monacensis