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Demonstration of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in the Tache Noire of a Healthy Person in Sicily^*

S. Mansueto, G. Tringali, R. Di Leo, M. Maniscalco, M. R. Montenegro^|| AND D. H. Walker^**

Clinica delle Malattie Tropicali, Universitá di Palermo, Italy
Istituto d'Igiene, Universitá di Palermo, Italy
Divisione di Medicina, Ospedali Civili Riuniti, Sciacca, Italy
^|| Department of Pathology, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
^** Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

A human case of rickettsial infection occurred in Sicily following tick bite. The patient did not have fever, the typical nodular rash, or other symptoms of illness other than development of a tache noire containing spotted fever group rickettsiae, which were demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A high titer of antibodies of the IgG class suggests that the patient may have had previous exposure to Rickettsia conorii or a related spotted fever group rickettsia. An anamnestic response may be hypothesized to have conferred partial immunity, with resulting containment of rickettsiae at the site of inoculation.

Accepted for publication August 25, 1983.

^* Address reprint requests to: David H. Walker, M.D., Department of Pathology, 228-H, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514.