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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is caused by , mainly vectored by hard ticks. However, whether can be transmitted by other arthropods remains unknown. Moreover, it is of...
Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is caused by , mainly vectored by hard ticks. However, whether can be transmitted by other arthropods remains unknown. Moreover, it is of interest to investigate whether other species cause spotted fever in endemic areas. In this study, a survey of species was performed in hematophagous arthropods (mosquitoes, tabanids, and ticks) from endemic areas for JSF in Hubei Province, central China. The results showed that the diversity and prevalence of species in mosquitoes are low, suggesting that mosquitoes may not be the vector of zoonotic species. A novel species showed a high prevalence (16.31%, 23/141) in tabanids and was named " Rickettsia tabanidii." It is closely related to from fleas and mosquitoes; however, its pathogenicity in humans needs further investigation. Five species were identified in ticks. , the agent of JSF, was detected only in and , suggesting that they may be the major vectors of . Notably, two novel species were identified in ticks, one belonging to the spotted fever group and the other potentially belonging to the ancestral group. The latter one named " Rickettsia hubeiensis" may provide valuable insight into the evolutionary history of .
Topics: Animals; Rickettsia; China; Phylogeny; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis; Ticks; Humans; Arthropods; DNA, Bacterial; Culicidae; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Endemic Diseases; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Siphonaptera
PubMed: 38725451
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1384284 -
Infection and Drug Resistance 2024infection is a rare disease, it is rare to report critical and severe case caused by this disease in Zhejiang Province, China.
BACKGROUND
infection is a rare disease, it is rare to report critical and severe case caused by this disease in Zhejiang Province, China.
PATIENT CONCERNS
We report a patient who initially sought medical attention due to fever and developed coma and convulsions during treatment. The patient did not develop typical eschar and rash. Eventually, the patient needed to be treated in the intensive care unit due to acute respiratory failure.
DIAGNOSES
The patient was diagnosed with bloodstream infection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).
OUTCOMES
Due to the critical illness, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, received doxycycline and other treatments, and rapidly recovered and discharged.
CONCLUSION
The patient developed a critical illness after being infected with , when the medical history is unclear and clinical symptoms and signs are atypical, it is necessary to use mNGS examination for diagnosis.
PubMed: 38495624
DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S451404 -
PloS One 2024Ixodid ticks, such as Ixodes ovatus and Haemaphysalis flava, are important vectors of tick-borne diseases in Japan, such as Japanese spotted fever caused by Rickettsia...
Ixodid ticks, such as Ixodes ovatus and Haemaphysalis flava, are important vectors of tick-borne diseases in Japan, such as Japanese spotted fever caused by Rickettsia japonica. This study describes the Rickettsia infection rates influenced by the population genetic structure of I.ovatus and H. flava along an altitudinal gradient. A total of 346 adult I. ovatus and 243 H. flava were analyzed for the presence of Rickettsia by nested PCR targeting the 17kDA, gltA, rOmpA, and rOmpB genes. The population genetic structure was analyzed utilizing the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (cox1) marker. The Rickettsia infection rates were 13.26% in I. ovatus and 6.17% in H. flava. For I. ovatus, the global FST value revealed significant genetic differentiation among the different populations, whereas H. flava showed non-significant genetic differentiation. The cox1 I. ovatus cluster dendrogram showed two cluster groups, while the haplotype network and phylogenetic tree showed three genetic groups. A significant difference was observed in Rickettsia infection rates and mean altitude per group between the two cluster groups and the three genetic groups identified within I. ovatus. No significant differences were found in the mean altitude or Rickettsia infection rates of H. flava. Our results suggest a potential correlation between the low gene flow in I. ovatus populations and the spatially heterogeneous Rickettsia infection rates observed along the altitudinal gradient. This information can be used in understanding the relationship between the tick vector, its pathogen, and environmental factors, such as altitude, and for the control of tick-borne diseases in Japan.
Topics: Animals; Ixodes; Altitude; Phylogeny; Ixodidae; Rickettsia Infections; Rickettsia; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis; Genetic Structures
PubMed: 38478554
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298656 -
Infectious Medicine Mar 2024In this study, we present a case of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) caused by and use this case to investigate the process of diagnosing and reintegrating traceability of...
BACKGROUND
In this study, we present a case of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) caused by and use this case to investigate the process of diagnosing and reintegrating traceability of infectious diseases via metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).
METHODS
From data relating to epidemiological history, clinical and laboratory examinations, and mNGS sequencing, a diagnosis of severe JSF was concluded.
RESULTS
A detailed field epidemiological investigation discovered parasitic from a host animal (dog) in the domicile of the patient, within which was detected, along with a diverse array of other potentially pathogenic microorganisms that could cause other infectious diseases.
CONCLUSION
The mNGS provided an efficient method to diagnose JSF infection. This methodology could also be applied to field epidemiological investigations to establish the traceability of infectious diseases.
PubMed: 38444746
DOI: 10.1016/j.imj.2024.100094 -
Cureus Jan 2024Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-transmitted infection caused by (), which is indigenous to Japan. Patients with JSF typically present with fever and spotted...
Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-transmitted infection caused by (), which is indigenous to Japan. Patients with JSF typically present with fever and spotted erythema on the palms and/or soles, and most of them have site(s) of tick bites. The prognosis is good, but some cases have a fatal course. Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis with an unknown cause that is characterized by symptoms such as fever, conjunctival injection, oral findings, amorphous rash, rigid edema, and nonsuppurative cervical lymphadenopathy. Although the symptoms of JSF are partially similar to those of KD, case reports of JSF overlapping KD have never been internationally published. Herein, we report a boy with JSF and KD symptoms. A five-year-old boy presented with fever and rash after he had been on a mountain inhabited by . On the fifth day, erythema was spotted mainly on his bilateral palms, bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, rigid edema of his lower feet, and mild conjunctival injection appeared. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was performed because these symptoms satisfied five out of the six diagnostic criteria for KD. However, on the sixth day, the fever persisted, and then we readministered IVIG in addition to tosufloxacin and azithromycin since we found a tick-bite eschar, which suggested a complication of JSF. His symptoms resolved soon after this treatment. Coronary artery lesions were never observed. This case indicates that the infection overlaps clinically with KD. Tosufloxacin and azithromycin should be considered to avoid the use of minocycline in younger patients with JSF.
PubMed: 38333512
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51915 -
Heliyon Jan 2024Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) is a Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiosis caused by . More than 300 cases are diagnosed annually in Japan, and the number of reported...
BACKGROUND
Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) is a Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiosis caused by . More than 300 cases are diagnosed annually in Japan, and the number of reported cases has been increasing. Correct diagnoses depend on the triad of symptoms and signs, including fever, rash, and eschar, which can be seen at the site of vector bites. JSF is not life-threatening if treated appropriately without diagnostic delay but there are some fatal cases every year. This negligence leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (MOF), and poor prognoses, consequently. Prompt diagnosis of JSF is difficult when the aforementioned triad of signs and symptoms is not initially present.
CASE REPORT
This report describes three JSF cases: an 87-year-old woman with fever, shock, pancytopenia, DIC, and MOF; a 79-year-old man with fever and difficulty in movement; and a 78-year-old man with fever, general fatigue, and appetite loss. All patients had a rash and eschar, which led to prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment immediately. All patients were treated without any complications.
WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?
As mentioned above, JFS can be fatal with delayed diagnoses and treatment initiations. The key for a prompt diagnosis is to recognize the triad of symptoms and signs, which are not often present initially, and it makes JSF diagnosis challenging. Repeated comprehensive physical examinations are essential for prompt diagnosis and improve prognosis of JSF.
PubMed: 38173519
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23462 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jul 2023To elucidate the epidemiology of murine typhus, which is infrequently reported in Japan, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 2,382 residents of...
To elucidate the epidemiology of murine typhus, which is infrequently reported in Japan, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 2,382 residents of rickettsiosis-endemic areas in Honshu Island during August-November 2020. Rickettsia typhi seroprevalence rate was higher than that of Orientia tsutsugamushi, indicating that murine typhus is a neglected disease.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne; Scrub Typhus; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Japan; Cross-Sectional Studies; Orientia tsutsugamushi; Rickettsia typhi
PubMed: 37347821
DOI: 10.3201/eid2907.230037 -
Infection and Drug Resistance 2023Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a rare disease, caused by ; no case has been reported in Zhejiang Province, China.
BACKGROUND
Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a rare disease, caused by ; no case has been reported in Zhejiang Province, China.
CASE PRESENTATION
An elderly woman presented to the hospital with abdominal pain and fever. Her condition rapidly worsened with severe complications, such as multiple organ failure and central nervous system damage. The presence of was quickly detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. On the basis of combined clinical manifestations and laboratory results, critical JSF was diagnosed and treated with doxycycline. The patient showed good prognosis. Typical symptoms (eschar and rash) were not observed in the early stage, consequently increasing the difficulty of clinical diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
The delay of treatment caused by non-specific symptoms is an important factor affecting the progression of JSF. As an emerging pathogen detection method, mNGS has been successfully applied for disease diagnosis and treatment, and can be an important complement for the diagnosis of this disease.
PubMed: 37283937
DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S408499 -
Yonago Acta Medica May 2023Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-borne bacterial febrile disease caused by characterized by fever, rash, and occasional death. The number of patients in Japan and...
BACKGROUND
Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-borne bacterial febrile disease caused by characterized by fever, rash, and occasional death. The number of patients in Japan and the Tottori Prefecture has been increasing over the past 20 years. Most cases were found in Eastern Tottori; however, the distribution of patients has expanded to the Central and Western regions. Ticks carried by wild animals may be the cause, but the prevalence of in ticks has not yet been analyzed.
METHODS
Ticks were collected by flagging-dragging from 16 sites in Tottori, Japan. The ticks were morphologically classified and DNA was extracted. The 17-kDa antigen gene was amplified using nested PCR. PCR amplicons from ticks and JSF patients were sequenced and phylogenetically compared.
RESULTS
In total, 177 ticks were collected and identified as The Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia (SFGR) was detected in and spp. using PCR, with positivity rates of 36.8% and 33.3%, respectively. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that positive ticks harbored , , and other Rickettsiae species; however, the patient's samples were restricted to . Similar to the incidence of JSF, the rate of -positive ticks was higher in the Eastern region; however, -positive ticks were also detected in the Western region.
CONCLUSION
sequences had been found in ticks collected in Tottori Prefecture. Ticks harboring were found in the Eastern and Western parts of Tottori Prefecture and the sequences were identical to the human cases. Only the sequence has been detected in patients with spotted fever symptoms, even though ticks were harboring various SFGRs.
PubMed: 37229380
DOI: 10.33160/yam.2023.05.013 -
International Journal of Infectious... May 2023We examined the frequency of cross-reactions to Rickettsia typhi in patients with Japanese spotted fever (JSF) and evaluated the differences between two rickettsiae...
OBJECTIVES
We examined the frequency of cross-reactions to Rickettsia typhi in patients with Japanese spotted fever (JSF) and evaluated the differences between two rickettsiae using antibody endpoint titers.
METHODS
Patients' immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG titers against Rickettsia japonica and Rickettsia typhi in two phases were measured using an indirect immunoperoxidase assay at two reference centers for rickettsiosis in Japan. Cross-reaction was defined as a higher titer against R. typhi in convalescent sera than in acute sera among patients fulfilling the criteria for JSF diagnosis. The frequencies of IgM and IgG were also evaluated.
RESULTS
Approximately 20% of cases showed positive cross-reactions. A comparison of antibody titers revealed the difficulty in identifying some positive cases.
CONCLUSION
Cross-reactions of 20% in serodiagnosis may lead to the misclassification of rickettsial diseases. However, with the exception of some cases, we were able to successfully differentiate JSF from murine typhus using each endpoint titer.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne; Japan; Rickettsia Infections; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis; Rickettsia; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne; Rickettsia typhi; Serologic Tests; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulin G; Antibodies, Bacterial
PubMed: 36907548
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.012