Murine typhus in returned travelers: a report of thirty-two cases

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jun;86(6):1049-53. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0794.

Abstract

Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi and transmitted mainly by the rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis, has emerged in the field of travel medicine. We analyzed retrospectively the epidemiological, clinical, and biological characteristics of the 32 murine typhus cases that were diagnosed during the past 3 years at the World Health Organization Collaborative Center for Rickettsial diseases, Marseille, France. All of the cases occurred in travelers and most of them had returned from Africa (N = 13 of 32) and South-east Asia (N = 12 of 32). Exposure to rats was reported only in a few (N = 2 of 32) patients. Almost half of the cases were diagnosed in August and September. Only four patients presented the classic triad: fever, rash, and headache. Moreover, we report the first known cases of a hemophagocytic syndrome associated with this disease. Murine typhus must be considered as an etiologic agent of febrile illness in returning travelers, particularly in those with unspecific symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Bacterial*
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fever / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rickettsia typhi / isolation & purification
  • Rickettsia typhi / pathogenicity
  • Seasons
  • Siphonaptera / microbiology
  • Travel*
  • Tunisia / epidemiology
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / diagnosis*
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / drug therapy
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / epidemiology*
  • Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / transmission
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Doxycycline