Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Apr;23(4):645-648.
doi: 10.3201/eid2304.160958.

Typhus Group Rickettsiosis, Texas, USA, 2003-2013

Kristy O Murray, Nicole Evert, Bonny Mayes, Eric Fonken, Timothy Erickson, Melissa N Garcia, Tom Sidwa

Typhus Group Rickettsiosis, Texas, USA, 2003-2013

Kristy O Murray et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

We characterized the epidemiology of typhus group rickettsiosis in Texas, USA. During 2003-2013, a total of 1,762 cases were reported to the state health department. The number of diagnosed cases and geographic expansion increased over time. Physician awareness is critical to diagnose and effectively treat rickettsial infections.

Keywords: Texas; Typhus group; United States; bacteria; fleas; murine typhus; rickettsia; rickettsiosis; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typhus group rickettsiosis, Texas, 2003–2013. A) Number of reported cases by year. B) Illness onset by epidemic week during the study period, by location; <28°N represents south Texas.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geographic distribution of typhus group rickettsiosis, Texas, 2003–2013. A) County-level cumulative incidence per 100,000 population, 2003–2013, and spread into new geographic areas beginning in 2007. B) Incidence stratified by geographic location; <28°N represents south Texas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Farhang Azad A, Traub R. Transmission of murine typhus rickettsiae by Xenopsylla cheopis, with notes on experimental infection and effects of temperature. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1985;34:555–63. - PubMed
    1. Massung RF, Davis LE, Slater K, McKechnie DB, Puerzer M. Epidemic typhus meningitis in the southwestern United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;32:979–82. 10.1086/319351 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Boostrom A, Beier MS, Macaluso JA, Macaluso KR, Sprenger D, Hayes J, et al. Geographic association of Rickettsia felis-infected opossums with human murine typhus, Texas. Emerg Infect Dis. 2002;8:549–54. 10.3201/eid0806.010350 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Williams SG, Sacci JB Jr, Schriefer ME, Andersen EM, Fujioka KK, Sorvillo FJ, et al. Typhus and typhuslike rickettsiae associated with opossums and their fleas in Los Angeles County, California. J Clin Microbiol. 1992;30:1758–62. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sorvillo FJ, Gondo B, Emmons R, Ryan P, Waterman SH, Tilzer A, et al. A suburban focus of endemic typhus in Los Angeles County: association with seropositive domestic cats and opossums. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1993;48:269–73. - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources