Rickettsia parkeri

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Rickettsia parkeri

Rickettsia parkeri causes a mild form of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). It was first confirmed in 2004 and is transmitted by the Amblyomma maculatum tick. This tick commonly infects cattle on the Gulf Coast of Texas. R. parkeri has been reported in the East and Southern coastal regions of the United States. An eschar or vesicular rash develops 2-10 days after the tick bite. Symptoms include myalgia, mild headache, and arthralgia. Mild elevation of liver enzymes, mild thrombocytopenia, and mild leukopenia are reported. Antibodies may cross-react with those of RMSF.
41. Paddock, Christopher. “Amblyomma Maculatum Tick.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008, https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=10879.
42. “Signs and Symptoms.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Jan. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/otherspottedfever/symptoms/index.html.

Amblyomma maculatum as a larval tick, nymph, adult male, and adult female stages (41).
Eschar at site of bite seen in Rickettsia parkeri infection (42).