Fatal Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis, Kenya

Abstract

We report a fatal case of rickettsiosis in a woman from the United States living in Kenya, who had a history of tick exposure. Immunohistochemical staining of skin, kidney, and liver demonstrated spotted fever group rickettsiae. The clinical findings, severity, and fatal outcome are most consistent with Rickettsia conorii infection.

Keywords

• Rickettsia
• Kenya
• tick typhus
• African tick-bite fever