Scrub Typhus in Continental Chile, 2016-20181

Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Jun;25(6):1214-1217. doi: 10.3201/eid2506.181860. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

Endemic scrub typhus was recently detected on Chiloé Island in southern Chile. We report a series of cases, acquired over a wide geographical range in continental Chile during 2016-2018, demonstrating that this emerging rickettsial infection is also found on the mainland of South America.

Keywords: Chile; Orientia species; South America; bacteria; epidemiology; rickettsia; scrub typhus; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Chile / epidemiology
  • Female
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi* / genetics
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi* / immunology
  • Scrub Typhus / epidemiology*
  • Scrub Typhus / history
  • Scrub Typhus / microbiology*
  • Scrub Typhus / transmission
  • Vector Borne Diseases
  • Young Adult
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M