Domain Bacteria Class Alphaproteobacteria Family Rickettsiaceae Rank Species | Phylum Proteobacteria Order Rickettsiales Genus Rickettsia | |
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Similar Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia africae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia akari, Dermacentor marginatus | ||
Rickettsia helvetica, previously known as the Swiss Agent, is a bacterium found in Dermacentor reticulatus and other ticks which has been implicated as a suspected but unconfirmed human pathogen. First recognized in 1979 in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Switzerland (hence the designation helvetica) as a new member of the spotted fever group of Rickettsia, the Rickettsia helvetica bacterium was eventually isolated in 1993. Although R. helvetica was initially thought to be harmless in humans and many animal species, some individual case reports suggest that it may be capable of causing a non-specific fever in humans. In 1997 a man living in eastern France seroconverted to Rickettsia 4 weeks after onset of an unexplained febrile illness. In 2010, a case report indicated that tick-borne R. helvetica can also cause meningitis in humans.
Contents
Molecular evidence suggests that in Croatia as many as 10% of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks are infected with R. helvetica.
Signs and symptoms
Erythema migrans or rash was observed at all combinations of seroreactivity, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, headache and respiratory problems
The spots (erythema migrans) are described as red spots, much lesser in size than those seen in lyme disease, but sometimes there are no spots at all according to http://www.gp.se/nyheter/sverige/1.1067910-fastingar-sprider-flacktyfus (Interview Kenneth Nilsson, Swedish co-author of previous citation).
Epidemiology
In 80 healthy Swedish blood donors, approximately 1% were seroreactive for Rickettsia spp., interpreted as past infection. In a prospective study of Swedish recruits who trained in the coastal areas, 8.9% showed seroconversion
Treatment
Broad band antibiotics are available, it is likely that phenoxymethylpenicillin is sufficient as the drug of choice.