Rickettsia helvetica
Encyclopedia
Rickettsia helvetica is a bacterium found in Dermacentor reticulatus and other tick
s that was previously thought harmless. In 1997, a man living in eastern France had seroconverted to Rickettsia 4 weeks after the onset of a then unexplained febrile illness
. It has been shown for the first time in 2010 to be a pathogen
that can cause meningitis
in humans according to new Swedish
research published in the American peer-reviewed
journal Emerging Infectious Diseases
.
It has been found out that Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Croatia
are infected with Rickettsia helvetica (10%) or Rickettsia slovaca (2%) or co-infected with both species (1%).
Tick
Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...
s that was previously thought harmless. In 1997, a man living in eastern France had seroconverted to Rickettsia 4 weeks after the onset of a then unexplained febrile illness
Febrile seizure
A febrile seizure, also known as a fever fit or febrile convulsion, is a convulsion associated with a significant rise in body temperature...
. It has been shown for the first time in 2010 to be a pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
that can cause meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
in humans according to new Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
research published in the American peer-reviewed
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
journal Emerging Infectious Diseases
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Emerging Infectious Diseases is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is in the public domain and is published monthly by the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases...
.
It has been found out that Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
are infected with Rickettsia helvetica (10%) or Rickettsia slovaca (2%) or co-infected with both species (1%).
External links
- http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/414742
- http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/1/98.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/1/pdfs/98.pdf