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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 75(4), 2006, pp. 732-738
Copyright © 2006 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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ISOLATION OF RICKETTSIA AKARI FROM ESCHARS OF PATIENTS WITH RICKETTSIALPOX

CHRISTOPHER D. PADDOCK*, TAMARA KOSS, MARINA E. EREMEEVA, GREGORY A. DASCH, SHERIF R. ZAKI, AND JOHN W. SUMNER
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch and Infectious Disease Pathology Activity, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Rickettsialpox is a cosmopolitan, mite-borne, spotted fever rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia akari. The disease is characterized by a primary eschar, fever, and a papulovesicular rash. Rickettsialpox was first identified in New York City in 1946 and the preponderance of recognized cases in the United States continues to originate from this large metropolitan center. The most recently isolated U.S. strain of R. akari was obtained more than a half century ago. We describe the culture and initial characterization of five contemporaneous isolates of R. akari obtained from eschar biopsy specimens from New York City patients with rickettsialpox. This work emphasizes the importance and utility of culture-and molecular-based methods for the diagnosis of rickettsialpox and other eschar-associated illnesses.

Received January 13, 2006. Accepted for publication May 23, 2006.

Acknowledgments: We thank Joseph Singleton Jr. (CDC) for performing the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assays.

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

* Address correspondence to Christopher D. Paddock, Infectious Disease Pathology Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G-32, 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30333. E-mail: CPaddock{at}cdc.gov

Authors’ addresses: Christopher D. Paddock, Sherif R. Zaki, and John W. Sumner, Infectious Disease Pathology Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G-32, 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30333, E-mails: CPaddock{at}cdc.gov, S.Zaki{at}cdc.gov, and JSumner{at}cdc.gov. Tamara Koss, 260 Middle Country Road, Suite 260, Smithtown, NY 11787, E-mail: tamarakoss{at}yahoo.com. Marina E. Eremeeva and Gregory A. Dasch, Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail-stop G-13, 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30333, E-mails: MEremeeva{at}cdc.gov and GDasch{at}cdc.gov.






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