Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Maryland—1901

Js, Dumler

doi:10.1001/jama.1991.03460060048012

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Detection of microbial antigens can be done using immunofluorescence analysis of frozen tissues and immunoperoxidase applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues (39). Immunohistochemistry is low cost and easy to perform (46); avoiding in-laboratory contamination and the visualization of ancient microbe tissues (30,39,41,42,46) are also possible using this technique. However, the degradation of ancient antigenic protein and the limited number of specific bacterial antibodies available limit the application of immunohistochemistry (39).…”

Section: Analyzing Ancient Microbial Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Immunohistochemistry has been used for the detection of intact smallpox virus particles in an Italian mummy from the 16th century by incubating the skin with anti-vaccinia virus antiserum followed by protein A-gold and electronmicroscopy(15). Immunohistochemistry was also used to detect the syphilis bacterium T. pallidum in the mummy of Maria d'Aragona (15031568) recovered from an abbey in Naples, Italy 16, as well as the Rocky Mountain spotted fever bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii in different tissues collected from a patient who died in 1901 with a false diagnosis of typhus, providing an example of retrospective diagnosis of closely related diseases (41). Immunodetection of Tropheryma whipplei in intestinal tissues from Dr. Whipple's patient in 1907, Whipple's first patient with Whipple's disease, yielded the observation that the lamina propria of the small intestine was filled with foamy macrophages and markedly dilated lacteals, causing the villi to appear widened and blunted by immunostaining (42).…”

Section: Analyzing Ancient Microbial Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1, Easter Island, Chile (24050 years before the present) (60); 2, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, US (1907) (42), 1901 (41); 3, Coimbra, Portugal (18371936) (66); 4, Addingham, West Yorkshire, UK (Medieval: 11th) (64); 5, Hereford, UK (AD 133554) (24); 6, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhne, France (1722) (37); 7, Martigues, Bouches-du-Rhne, France (17201721) (37); 8, Berre l'Etang, Bouches-du-Rhne, France (17201721) (37); 9, Lambesc, Bouches-du-Rhne, France (1590) (37); 10, Draguignan, Var, France (16491650) (37); 11, Puy-St.-Pierre, Hautes-Alpes, France (16281632) (37); 12, Briano, France (17th) (46); 13, Poitiers, France (16th18th) (34); 14, La Chaize-le-Vicomte, France (16th18th) (34); 15, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, France (AD 1348 or 1374) (34); 16, Naples, Italy (16th) (11); (15031568) (12); 17, Narni, Italy (second to first centuries BC) (26); 18, Florence, Italy (16th) (38); 19, Genoa (14th) (46); 20, Parma, Italy (16th/17th) (24); 21, Stuttgart, Germany (14th17th) (48); 22, Augsburg, Germany (16th/17th) (24); 23, Szeged, Hungary (AD 6001600) (52,69); 24, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands (mid-14th) (24); 25, Gebelein (Luxor area), Egypt (3200 BC) (31,32); 26, Gurna, Egypt (15001085 BC) (32); 27, Nakht, Egypt (Thebes 11981150 BC) (44); 28, North Argin, Nubia, Sudan (Wadi Halfa) (AD 350550) (32); 29, Negev desert at Karkur, Israel (AD 600) (61); 30, Atlit-Yam in the Eastern Mediterranean, Israel (92508160 years before the present) (68). …”

Section: Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond ancient microbial DNA: Nonnucleotidic Biomolecules For Paleomicrobiology

et al. 2011

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Identifying the causes of past epidemics depends on the specific detection of pathogens in buried individuals; this field of research is known as paleomicrobiology, an emerging field that has benefited from technological advances in microbiology. For almost 15 years, the detection, identification, and characterization of microbes in ancient environmental and human specimens emerged on the basis of ancient DNA (aDNA) analyses. aDNA limitations due to potential contamination by modern DNA and altered aDNA led to the development of alternative methods for the detection and characterization of nonnucleotidic biomolecules, including mycolic acids (of ancient mycobacteria) and proteins. Accordingly, immunohistochemistry, immunochromatography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques have been developed for the specific detection of microbes from ancient human and environmental specimens. Protein analysis by mass spectrometry, a standard for ancient animal identification, has also recently emerged as a technique for ancient mycobacteria detection, while immuno-PCR is yet another promising technique. As with aDNA, strict protocols must be enforced to ensure authenticity of the data. Here we review the analysis of nonnucleotidic biomolecules from ancient microbes and the ability of these analyses to complement aDNA analyses, which opens new opportunities for identification of ancient microbes as well as new avenues to potentially resolve controversies regarding the cause of some historical pandemics and study the coevolution of microbes and hosts.

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Section: Analyzing Ancient Microbial Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analyzing Ancient Microbial Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond ancient microbial DNA: Nonnucleotidic Biomolecules For Paleomicrobiology

et al. 2011

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“…This presents as a blanching maculopapular rash initially found on the distal extremities, extending to the proximal areas and the trunk. Delayed diagnosis resulting in inappropriate or inadequate therapy may cause significant morbidity or mortality (3). The spectrum of microscopic changes in the skin lesions of RMSF have not been well described (4).…”

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confidence: 99%

Cutaneous histopathology of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

et al. 1997

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The dermatologic diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is often presumptive; the clinical presentation includes skin rash and febrile illness with or without a clear history of tick bite. The characteristic cutaneous manifestations include a generalized skin eruption with purpuric, blanching or non-blanching macules and papules usually involving the extremities. Although skin biopsies are often performed to confirm the diagnosis, the spectrum of cutaneous histopathology in RMSF has not been well described. We studied a series of 26 cases of RMSF, of which 10 were surgical specimens and 16 were autopsies. The microscopic changes were correlated with the duration of illness. The main histopathologic feature was lymphohistiocytic capillaritis and venulitis with extravasation of erythrocytes, edema, predominantly perivascular and some interstitial infiltrate. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) with neutrophilic infiltrate and nuclear dust was seen in 11 of 15 (73%) specimens from involved skin. These lesions with LCV also showed notable epidermal change including basal layer vacuolar degeneration with mild dermoepidermal interface lymphocytic exocytosis. Six lesions with LCV displayed focal fibrin thrombi and capillary wall necrosis. Apoptotic keratinocytes were noted in 3 lesions with LCV. Subepidermal blister was observed in the skin lesion of an autopsied patient with LCV changes. Another lesion of a fatal case with LCV also contained features of acute neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis. Focal small nerve twig inflammation was noted in a third autopsy case with LCV. Plasma cells were seen in 6 of 34 specimens (18%); and eosinophils were observed in 3 (9%). The subcutaneous fat contained a mild perivascular inflammation and one case revealed focal lobular neutrophilic inflammation. Immunohistologic (IH) staining using polyclonal rabbit anti-Rickettsia rickettsii demonstrated positive staining of the organisms in the affected endothelial cells in all 12 cases tested. The cutaneous histopathology of RMSF is caused by endothelial damage by the rickettsial organisms which elicit an initial lymphohistiocytic small vessel vasculitis with progression to LCV. The vasculitis in RMSF is, therefore, considered to be a form of septic vasculitis.

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“…1 It is likely that some early reports of "typhus" in Argentina in fact represented cases of spotted fever, similar to those cases of RMSF misidentified as epidemic or murine typhus in the United States and other regions of South America during the early 20th century. [11][12][13] A cluster of severe spotted fever in six young children occurred in southeastern Jujuy Province and neighboring Salta Province during November 1993 to March 1994 and resulted in the death of two patients. Presumably, these patients were also infected with R. rickettsii; however, only spotted fever group-specific assays were used to diagnose cases from that outbreak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Argentina

Paddock

Fernández²,

Echenique³

et al. 2008

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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We describe the first molecular confirmation of Rickettsia rickettsii, the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), from a tick vector, Amblyomma cajennense, and from a cluster of fatal spotted fever cases in Argentina. Questing A. cajennense ticks were collected at or near sites of presumed or confirmed cases of spotted fever rickettsiosis in Jujuy Province and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction assays for spotted fever group rickettsiae. DNA of R. rickettsii was amplified from a pool of A. cajennense ticks and from tissues of one of four patients who died during 2003-2004 after illnesses characterized by high fever, severe headache, myalgias, and petechial rash. The diagnosis of spotted fever rickettsiosis was confirmed in the other patients by indirect immunofluorescence antibody and immunohistochemical staining techniques. These findings show the existence of RMSF in Argentina and emphasize the need for clinicians throughout the Americas to consider RMSF in patients with febrile rash illnesses.

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Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Maryland—1901

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Beyond ancient microbial DNA: Nonnucleotidic Biomolecules For Paleomicrobiology

Beyond ancient microbial DNA: Nonnucleotidic Biomolecules For Paleomicrobiology

Cutaneous histopathology of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Argentina

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