Clinical and epidemiological comparison of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, related to Amblyomma triste and Amblyomma tigrinum, in Argentina

ROMER, YAMILA; BORRÁS, PABLO; GOVEDIC, FRANCISCO; NAVA, SANTIAGO; CARRANZA, JOSÉ IGNACIO; SANTINI, SOLEDAD; ARMITANO, RITA; LLOVERAS, SUSANA

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

Elsevier

Año: 2020 vol. 11

1877-959X

The aim of this work was to compare the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosisrelated to Amblyomma triste and Amblyomma tigrinum ecological regions in Argentina. We reviewed casesof R. parkeri rickettsiosis from 2007 to 2017 evaluated at Muñiz Hospital, directly or through referral. Univariateanalysis was used to examine the association between different variables and the disease related by each vectorspecies. The eighteen cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis included had fever, inoculation eschar and all except onehad rash. Regional differences in epidemiological variables were identified, depending on the vector. There wasa significantly increased risk of exposure to A. tigrinum in peri-domestic areas (odd ratio 12, p=0.02), whereasan increased risk of exposure to A. triste was evident in wildlife areas (odd ratio 12, p=0.02). Seasonality of R.parkeri rickettsiosis differed based on its vector. Cases associated with A. triste occurred predominantly duringspring and summer, whereas those associated with A. tigrinum occurred during fall, winter, and springtime.Exanthema was maculopapular (13/18), maculo-vesicular (3/18) or petechial (1/18). No clinical differenceswere identified depending on the vector.