Severe Rickettsia typhi Infections, Costa Rica

Abstract

Murine typhus is a febrile, fleaborne disease caused by infection with Rickettsia typhi bacteria. Cases can range from mild and nonspecific to fatal. We report 2 cases of murine typhus in Costa Rica, confirming the presence and circulation of R. typhi causing severe disease in the country.

Keywords

• Rickettsia typhi
• rickettsia
• murine typhus
• endemic typhus
• fleaborne typhus
• severe infections