Imported scrub typhus: first case in South America and review of the literature

Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines
Thomas WeitzelAllen L Richards

Abstract

Scrub typhus is a neglected vector-borne zoonosis causing life-threatening illnesses, endemic in the Asian-Pacific region and, as recently discovered, in southern Chile. Scrub typhus is rarely reported in travelers, most probably due to the lack of clinical experience and diagnostic tests in non-endemic countries. We report the first case of imported scrub typhus in South America. A 62-year-old tourist from South Korea presented severely ill with fever, rash, and eschar in Santiago, Chile. Laboratory exams showed thrombocytopenia and elevated inflammation parameters, hepatic enzymes, and LDH. With the clinical suspicion of scrub typhus, empirical treatment with doxycycline was initiated and the patient recovered rapidly and without complications. The diagnosis was confirmed by IgM serology and by real-time PCR, which demonstrated infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi (Kawasaki clade). Only due to the emerging clinical experience with endemic South American scrub typhus and the recent implementation of appropriate diagnostic techniques in Chile, were we able to firstly identify and adequately manage a severe case of imported scrub typhus in South America. Physicians attending febrile travelers need to be aware of this rickettsio...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 27, 2019·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Philip EisermannDennis Tappe
Mar 6, 2019·Emerging Infectious Diseases·Thomas WeitzelKatia Abarca
Apr 5, 2020·Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease·Allen L Richards, Ju Jiang
Sep 2, 2020·Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases·Rebecca John, George M Varghese
Aug 21, 2020·Emerging Infectious Diseases·Katia AbarcaThomas Weitzel
Apr 9, 2020·BMC Infectious Diseases·Jie ChenZhan-Wei Ruan
Nov 30, 2019·Infection & chemotherapy·Young Hoon KimJae Seung Kang
Apr 16, 2021·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Tanaporn WangsanutJason A Carlyon
Apr 17, 2021·Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease·Cecilia CostaFederico Gobbi

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Datasets Mentioned

BETA
MG844361

Methods Mentioned

BETA
ELISA
PCR

Software Mentioned

MEGA7

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