Unrecognized spotted fever group rickettsiosis masquerading as dengue fever in Mexico. 1996

J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Mexico.

Although Rocky Mountain spotted fever was documented in northern Mexico during the 1940s, spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses have subsequently received little attention in Mexico. In this study, sera collected in 1993 from 50 patients from the Mexican states of Yucatan and Jalisco, who were suspected clinically to have dengue fever but had no antibodies to dengue virus, were examined by indirect immunofluorescence for IgM antibodies reactive with Rickettsia rickettsii, R. akari, and R. typhi. Twenty (40%) of the patients' sera contained IgM antibodies to SFG rickettsiae at a titer of 128 or greater. Among five sera reactive only against R. akari, four were from patients in Jalisco where a cluster of cases occurred in June and July. Among five sera reactive only with R. rickettsii, all were from Yucatan patients. Sera of 10 patients contained antibodies reactive with antigens shared by R. rickettsii and R. akari. The clinical signs and symptoms (fever, 100%; myalgia, 95%; headache, 85%; rash, 85%) were similar to those of dengue fever patients identified in this study. However, the incidence of rash was substantially higher than the nondengue, nonrickettsiosis patients. One or more SFG rickettsioses appear to be present in areas of Mexico not previously recognized to harbor these organisms. The etiologic agent or agents are as yet unknown.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008800 Mexico A country in NORTH AMERICA, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between BELIZE and the UNITED STATES, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the UNITED STATES.
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003715 Dengue An acute febrile disease transmitted by the bite of AEDES mosquitoes infected with DENGUE VIRUS. It is self-limiting and characterized by fever, myalgia, headache, and rash. SEVERE DENGUE is a more virulent form of dengue. Dengue Fever,Break-Bone Fever,Breakbone Fever,Classical Dengue,Classical Dengue Fever,Break Bone Fever,Classical Dengue Fevers,Classical Dengues,Dengue Fever, Classical,Dengue, Classical,Fever, Break-Bone,Fever, Breakbone,Fever, Dengue
D003716 Dengue Virus A species of the genus FLAVIVIRUS which causes an acute febrile and sometimes hemorrhagic disease in man. Dengue is mosquito-borne and four serotypes are known. Breakbone Fever Virus,Breakbone Fever Viruses,Dengue Viruses,Fever Virus, Breakbone,Fever Viruses, Breakbone,Virus, Breakbone Fever,Virus, Dengue,Viruses, Breakbone Fever,Viruses, Dengue
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
January 1999, Ryoikibetsu shokogun shirizu,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
June 1985, Japanese journal of medical science & biology,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
March 2010, Emerging infectious diseases,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
November 2007, Emerging infectious diseases,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
August 1996, Lancet (London, England),
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
February 1992, Kansenshogaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
April 1990, Kansenshogaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
June 1996, Kansenshogaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
June 1994, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
J E Zavala-Velazquez, and X J Yu, and D H Walker
April 1990, Infection and immunity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!