Suspected and Confirmed Vector-Borne Rickettsioses of North America Associated with Human Diseases

Overview

Journal Trop Med Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2018 Oct 3

PMID 30274401

Citations 12

Authors

Melissa Hardstone Yoshimizu

Sarah A Billeter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The identification of pathogenic rickettsial agents has expanded over the last two decades. In North America, the majority of human cases are caused by tick-borne rickettsioses but rickettsiae transmitted by lice, fleas, mites and other arthropods are also responsible for clinical disease. Symptoms are generally nonspecific or mimic other infectious diseases; therefore, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed. While infection with most rickettsioses is relatively mild, delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. This review will discuss the ecology, epidemiology and public health importance of suspected and confirmed vector-transmitted species of North America associated with human diseases.

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