Mediterranean spotted fever in Algeria — new trends

Abstract

The present report gives a unique panel of clinical aspects of MSF as well as new trends in this disease. Entomological, climatic, and molecular studies are needed to better understand both epidemiological and clinical aspects of MSF.

Detection of Rickettsia in Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks and Ctenocephalides felis Fleas from Southeastern Tunisia by Reverse Line Blot Assay

“…conorii antibodies or a positive skin biopsy specimen (28). In Algeria, Mouffok et al (29) reported that 161 rick- ettsiosis cases had been exposed to dogs. Of these, 58% of the patients had an R. conorii infection (29).…”

“…In Algeria, Mouffok et al (29) reported that 161 rick- ettsiosis cases had been exposed to dogs. Of these, 58% of the patients had an R. conorii infection (29). Moreover, in our study, 2 of 6 R. sanguineus ticks collected on sheep in Sakiet Ezzit were infected by R. conorii.…”

Update on tick-borne bacterial diseases in Europe

“…Recently, in a prospective study conducted in Algeria, North Africa, 49 % of patients were hospitalized with a severe form of MSF, and the global death rate was 3.6 %. Furthermore, the MSF incidence was 54.5 % in patients hospitalized with major neurological manifestations and multiorgan involvement (Mouffok et al, 2009). After an incubation of around six days, the onset of MSF is abrupt.…”

Diagnosis of Rickettsioses from Eschar Swab Samples, Algeria

“…Specifi c Rickettsia conorii conorii qPCR, targeting the putative acetyltransferase gene (2), had positive results for 25 (64%) patients; C t values ranged from 31.02 to 38.63. This sensitivity is comparable to that of PCRs for detecting R. conorii, the agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, on skin biopsy samples (4,6). Mean C t value for β-actin gene amplifi cation of R. conorii conoriipositive swab samples was 23.84 (± 2.19), signifi cantly lower than that for R. conorii conorii-negative samples (26.84 ± 2.72; p = 0.0003).…”

“…In an animal model, as long as eschars were present, rickettsial DNA was detected (2). Our aim was to evaluate the advantage of skin swab samples for diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in a country where rickettsioses are endemic (4).…”