Tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii infection in humans has been described in several countries. This is the first report of R. aeschlimannii in a woman who reported being bitten by ticks in Xingjiang, northwestern China. R. aeschlimannii infection was confirmed by molecular detection in blood and urine of the patient, who presented clinical symptoms of severe edema, partial necrosis, and monocytosis. R. aeschlimannii was also detected in Hyalomma asiaticum ticks around the patient's residence. Infections of spotted fever group Rickettsia species should be included in the differential diagnosis from other tick-borne diseases.
Keywords: Hyalomma asiaticum; Rickettsia aeschlimannii; northwestern China; patient.