Murine typhus: Difference between revisions

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''Also known as "endemic typhus" and "fleaborne typhus"''
''Not to be confused with [[typhoid fever]], a distinct disease caused by a different genera of bacteria''
==Background==
==Background==
[[File:NHMUK010177265 The plague flea - Xenopsylla cheopis cheopis (Rothschild, 1903).jpg|thumb|Microscopic image of rat [[flea]].]]
*Also known as "'''endemic''' typhus" and "flea-borne typhus"
*Caused by Rickettsia typhi
*Caused by Rickettsia typhi
**Gram negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium
**Gram negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium
**Replicates in epithelial cells of flea's midgut
**Replicates in epithelial cells of [[flea]]'s midgut


;Vector
{{Typhus types chart}}
*Infection is transmitted by fleas
 
**Typically rat fleas
===Vector===
*Infection is transmitted by [[fleas]]
**Typically rat [[fleas]]
**Also Rickettsia felis (indistinguishable from R. typhi) carried by fleas on opossum and cats
**Also Rickettsia felis (indistinguishable from R. typhi) carried by fleas on opossum and cats
*Feces containing R. typhi are deposited into wound made by flea bites
*Feces containing R. typhi are deposited into wound made by flea bites
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==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
[[File:Murine_Typhus.png|thumb|Rash of Murine Typhus]]
[[File:PMC2729230 wjem-10-207f1.png|thumb|Diffuse rash consisting of multiple, small, erythematous, and confluent macules.]]
*Incubation period: 7-14 days
*Incubation period: 7-14 days
[[File:Murine_Typhus.png|thumb|Rash of Murine Typhus]]
 
===Symptoms===
===Symptoms===
*Variable and non-specific
*Variable and non-specific
*Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
*Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
;Most Common Symptoms
;Most Common Symptoms
*Fever- can last ~1 week
*High [[fever]]
*Rash
**Can last ~1 week
*[[Rash]]
**Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
**Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
**Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
**Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
**Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
**Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
**Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
**Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
*Headache
*[[Headache]]
*Arthralgias
*[[Arthralgia]]s


;Other Symptoms
;Other Symptoms/Complications
*Hepatomegally
*[[Hepatomegaly]]
*Splenomegally
*Splenomegaly
*Cough
*[[Cough]]
*[[Diarrhea]]
*[[Diarrhea]]
*Nausea/Vomiting
*[[Nausea/Vomiting]]
*Abdominal pain
*[[Abdominal pain]]
*Confusion
*[[Meningitis]]
**[[Confusion]]
*[[Endocarditis]]
*Rarely [[death]] (<1% of cases)


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
*Non-specific viral illness
*Non-specific [[viral syndrome|viral illness]]
*Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
*Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
{{Tick borne illnesses DDX}}
{{Tick borne illnesses DDX}}
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==Evaluation==
==Evaluation==
===Work up===
*Infectious work up
*Infectious work up
**Not sensitive or specific
**Not sensitive or specific
**CBC- can show anemia and thrombocytopenia
**CBC- can show [[anemia]] and [[thrombocytopenia]]
**LFTs- often elevated 3-5x normal
**[[LFTs]]- often elevated 3-5x normal
**Lumbar Puncture- resembles aseptic meningitis  
**[[Lumbar puncture]]- resembles aseptic meningitis  
===Diagnostic labs===
===Diagnostic labs===
*Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard
*Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard
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==Management==
==Management==
''May need to treat empirically while awaiting confirmatory testing.''
*[[Doxycycline]] 100mg BID continue for 3 days after resolution of symptoms<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
*[[Doxycycline]] 100mg BID continue for 3 days after resolution of symptoms<ref>Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.</ref>
**Children - 2.2mg/kg BID
**Children - 2.2mg/kg BID
*[[Chloramphenicol]] 50-100mg/kg/day div Q6hr (Max dose = 4g/day)
*[[Chloramphenicol]] 50-100mg/kg/day div Q6hr (Max dose = 4g/day)
==Disposition==


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Typhus]]


==External Links==
==External Links==

Latest revision as of 20:57, 16 April 2025

Not to be confused with typhoid fever, a distinct disease caused by a different genera of bacteria

Background

Microscopic image of rat flea.
  • Also known as "endemic typhus" and "flea-borne typhus"
  • Caused by Rickettsia typhi
    • Gram negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium
    • Replicates in epithelial cells of flea's midgut

Types of Typhus

Multiple diseases include the word "typhus" in their description. Types include:

Condition Bacteria Reservoir/vector Notes
Epidemic "Louse-borne" typhus Rickettsia prowazekii Human Body louse When the term "typhus" is used without clarification, this is usually the condition described. Historical references to "typhus" are now generally considered to be this condition.
Murine typhus or "endemic typhus" or "flea-borne" typhus Rickettsia typhi Fleas on rats
Scrub typhus Orientia tsutsugamushi Harvest mites on humans or rodents Unlike the two conditions above, though it has the word "typhus" in the name, it is currently usually not classified in the typhus group, but in the closely related spotted fever group.
Queensland tick typhus Rickettsia australis Ticks

Vector

  • Infection is transmitted by fleas
    • Typically rat fleas
    • Also Rickettsia felis (indistinguishable from R. typhi) carried by fleas on opossum and cats
  • Feces containing R. typhi are deposited into wound made by flea bites
  • Found in areas with large populations of urban rats
    • United States
      • Southern Texas
      • Southern California
    • Internationally: Tropical/Subtropical urban seaboard regions
  • Seasonal predilection for summer months
    • Texas: Spring to summer
    • California: Summer to fall

Clinical Features

Rash of Murine Typhus
Diffuse rash consisting of multiple, small, erythematous, and confluent macules.
  • Incubation period: 7-14 days

Symptoms

  • Variable and non-specific
  • Often presents as acute, self-limited illness, with no complications[1]
Most Common Symptoms
  • High fever
    • Can last ~1 week
  • Rash
    • Macular or maculopapular, blanching, non-pruritic
    • Starts centrally and moves to the extremities
    • Can involve palms/soles but usually sparing
    • Starts 6-7 days after symptom onset (fever onset)
  • Headache
  • Arthralgias
Other Symptoms/Complications

Differential Diagnosis

  • Non-specific viral illness
  • Most common admitting diagnosis in one case study was "fever of unknown origin"[2]

Tick Borne Illnesses

Fever in traveler

Evaluation

Diagnostic labs

  • Immunofluorescent assay is the gold standard
    • Becomes diagnostic with time. Rarely positive at onset of illness.
  • PCR

Management

May need to treat empirically while awaiting confirmatory testing.

  • Doxycycline 100mg BID continue for 3 days after resolution of symptoms[3]
    • Children - 2.2mg/kg BID
  • Chloramphenicol 50-100mg/kg/day div Q6hr (Max dose = 4g/day)

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
  2. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
  3. ↑ Civen R, Ngo V, 2008. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis 46: 913–918.
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