The First Human Case of Rickettsia tamurae Infection in Japan

Abstract

A case of Rickettsia tamurae infection in Japan is reported. A 76-year-old Japanese male had a tick bite which developed to local skin inflammation on his left leg. Anti-rickettsia antibodies were detected in his serum, and R. tamurae DNA was identified in his blood, the lesional skin, and the tick.

Keywords

• Rickettsia tamurae infection
• Spotted fever group
• Amblyomma testudinarium
• Local skin inflammation
• Human pathogen