Murine Typhus in Latin America: Perspectives of a Once Recognized but Now Neglected Vector-Borne Disease

Abstract

Murine typhus is an undifferentiated febrile illness. Historically recognized throughout Latin America, it has been seldom reported in recent decades. When clinicians and researchers are attuned, endemic foci have reemerged. The demonstrable seroprevalence in areas devoid of reported cases indicates murine typhus is an underappreciated infectious disease in Latin America.

Figure 1.

(A) Latin American countries with historical data describing murine typhus (based on articles published between 1928 and 1999). (B) Countries with contemporary data describing murine typhus (based on articles published between 2000 and 2021). Dark gray shaded countries indicate those with both serological studies and autochthonous human cases. Light gray shaded countries represent those with serological studies but no reported autochthonous human cases. The countries in white are without reported human cases or serological studies.