Francisella tularensis/Rickettsia spp. co-infections in patients with skin changes and lymphadenopathy

摘要

IntroductionTularemia and spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFG) can be transmitted by ticks and have a number of common clinical symptoms. Most characteristic are a maculopapular or vesicular rash or an eschar at the site of the tick or insect bite accompanied by painful lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to determine whether Rickettsia spp./Francisella tularensis mixed infections occurred in patients with similar symptoms who were diagnosed with either Rickettsia spp. or F. tularensis infection.