Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of 144 Patients with Mediterranean Spotted Fever.

The article presents the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 144 patients with Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF). MSF is a rickettsiosis of the spotted fever group that is caused by Rickettsia conorii and is endemic in the Mediterranean region. The usual vector is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The typical symptoms are fever and rash, with the presence of a black eschar (tache noire) in 30-86% of cases. Although MSF is usually a benign disease, serious complications and rare cases with a fatal outcome have also been reported, typically among elderly patients or those with underlying diseases. Serological confirmation of infection is obtained using indirect immunofluorescence against Rickettsia conorii.