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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 29-31 |
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Malignant mediterranean spotted fever in the setting of diabetes mellitus: An uncommon cutaneous entity
Tarang Goyal1, Anupam Varshney2, SK Bakshi3, Veena Mittal4
1 Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital, Uttar Pradesh, India
2 Department of Pathology, Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital, Uttar Pradesh, India
3 Department of Medicine, Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital, Uttar Pradesh, India
4 Zoonosis Division, National Center for Disease Control, Delhi, India
| Date of Web Publication | 25-Sep-2014 |
Correspondence Address:
Tarang Goyal
H. No. 40, Somdutt Vihar, Meerut - 250 004, Uttar Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2225-6482.141752
In this era of immune suppression and potential biological warfare, we need to be aware of cutaneous manifestations of relatively uncommon bacterium, their atypical variants, and the early treatment protocols. We present atypical presentation of Indian possible tick typhus diagnosed clinically and confirmed both by biopsy of the lesion and serological tests. Keywords: Fièvre boutonneuse, malignant Mediterranean spotted fever, rickettsia, Wohlbach′s nodule
How to cite this article:
Goyal T, Varshney A, Bakshi S K, Mittal V. Malignant mediterranean spotted fever in the setting of diabetes mellitus: An uncommon cutaneous entity. Community Acquir Infect 2014;1:29-31 |
How to cite this URL:
Goyal T, Varshney A, Bakshi S K, Mittal V. Malignant mediterranean spotted fever in the setting of diabetes mellitus: An uncommon cutaneous entity. Community Acquir Infect [serial online] 2014 [cited 2023 Jun 1];1:29-31. Available from: http://www.caijournal.com/text.asp?2014/1/1/29/141752 |
| Introduction | |  |
Rickettsia, a concept that developed over a period of time, has seen significant taxonomic re-classification with the advent of modern molecular technologies. These are obligate, intracellular, gram-negative cocco-bacilli, 0.3-1.0 μm, composed of RNA and DNA and reproducing through binary fission. With up to 21 species of rickettsia known to be causing human disease and Center for Disease Control (CDC) listing R. rickettsiae, R. prowazekii, and C. burnetii as Category B on the list of potential weapons of biological warfare, the less fatal R. conorii and R. typhii can also cause significant morbidity if genetically engineered or mutated strains emerge. Our case additionally highlights the significance of such infections occurring in immune-compromised individuals who may present with atypical presentations due to altered immune response and further may present difficulties in diagnosis.
| Case report | | |
A 55-year-old male diabetic patient presented with fever, intense headache, chills, arthralgia, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, headache, and rash on back, buttocks, abdomen, genitalia, and proximal extremities in the outpatient department of medicine was referred to dermatology department for rash [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. There was a typical history of being in contact with dog, and he also had complaint of being bitten by an unknown insect with formation of crusted lesions at these sites 15 days back. The character of the rash was polymorphic with numerous macular, papular, papulo-vesicular, variously sized, centrally crusted, erythematous lesions in various stages of evolution. The patient had a pulse rate of 52 per minute, which was confirmed on ECG. No cardiac cause of bradycardia was located. The first clinical differential was thought of as Kaposi's varicelliform eruption, and Tzanck test was done. Surprisingly, no acantholysis or multinucleate giant cells were seen. But, with relevant history and seeing the minimal response to conventional antibiotics (Ceftriaxone with Gentamycin i.v.) after 3 days, a presumptive diagnosis of rickettsia was made, although the lesions were atypical. He was put on Doxycycline 100 mg bid for five days.  | Figure 1. Panel A– Multiple variously sized macular, papulovesicular, crusted lesions in various stages of evolution on back. Panel B– Follow up of the patient on fi fth day showing healing with erythema and hypopigmentation of smaller lesions and shedding of crusts of bigger lesions
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 | Figure 2. Lesions on abdomen and chest region of the patient. Inset: Close up view of seemingly targetoid lesion
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Since facilities of rickettsial diagnosis are available at limited centers, the sample was sent to National Center for Disease Control, Delhi for confirmation of diagnosis. The serum sample was positive for IgM and IgG antibodies to Indian tick typhus (R.conorii) by ELISA test. Weil Felix test reaction was positive with titer >1:160 to Proteus OX2 antigen. As regards to hematological parameters, his hemoglobin level was 124 g/L, total leukocyte count 15.9 × 10 9 /L, differential leukocyte count neutrophils 8.9 × 10 9 /L, lymphocytes 5.3 × 10 9 /L, eosinophils 1.1 × 10 9 /L, monocytes 0.6 × 10 9 /L, ESR 32 mm in first hour (Westergren's method), thrombocyte count 80 × 10 9 /L, blood urea 8.2 mmol/L, serum creatinine 186 mmol/L, serum sodium 128 mmol/L, plasma glucose fasting 8.14 mmol/L, plasma glucose post-prandial 16.1 mmol/L, serum bilirubin 15.4 μmol/L, SGOT 48 U/L, SGPT 56 U/L. His other investigations as ultrasound abdomen, X-ray chest, RA factor, ASO titers, CRP, VDRL in dilution were all either normal or non-reactive.
The histopathology was done [Figure 3], and it showed eschar formation, breach in epidermis, focal occlusive end-angiitis of small venules, and arterioles with prominent perivascular infiltrate predominantly lymphocytic in nature (Wohlbach's nodule). | Figure 3. Showing breach in epidermis, eschar tissue, end-angiitis of small venules and arterioles with predominantly lymphocytic infi ltrate (H and E 4 × 10). Inset: Close-up view of typical Wohlbach's nodule (H and E 10 × 10). Arrow indicates the Wohlbach's nodule
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The patient was put on doxycycline 200 mg/day for further 7 days, and he improved both in cutaneous lesions and systemic signs and symptoms.
| Discussion | | |
Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) (Fièvre boutonneuse) is the prototype of non-Rocky Mountain Spotted fever group (RMSF) group. Unusual rickettsial strains related to R. conorii have been put in 'R. conorii complex,' which include the Indian tick typhus rickettsia, Astrakhan fever rickettsia, and the Israeli spotted fever rickettsia. The Indian tick typhus strain (ATCC VR-597) was isolated from Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick by C.B. Philip in 1950. The prevailing vector is the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus also R. pumilio, with the reservoirs of infection being domestic dogs, rabbits, and rodents. It does not lead to infection in dogs with maximum cases being reported in spring and summer seasons. As per observations of Colomba C et al., [1] the ticks modify their feeding habits by becoming hunters in warm periods and address more readily to humans. This in turn may lead to more lesions with ulcerations. [2]
Many cases have been reported from Indian subcontinent, but none has been of 'Malignant Mediterranean fever More Details,' which is the first of its kind from India.
In our case, the lesions were more crusted in nature with few macular lesions and it was perhaps due to late presentation. Tache noire is a typical red papular lesion with necrosis in center and is seen in upto 72% cases with R. conorii infection. [3]
Malignant in rickettsial disease means severe form associated with neurological complications, chronic liver disease, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, glucose 6 phosphatase deficiency, end-stage renal disease, and cardiac disease. The malignant form is diagnosed when patients present with at least two laboratory findings and two clinical symptoms of the following criteria:
Laboratory findings: Thrombocytopenia <100 × 10 9 /L, renal failure (creatinine level > 150 mmol/L, hyponatremia <130 mmol/L, hypocalcemia <2.1 mmol/L, hypoxemia (arterial oxygen pressure <10.5 kPa). Clinical symptoms: Purpuric rash, stupor, pneumonia, bradycardia, coma, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, arthargia, orchitis, conjunctival hyperemia, meningism, meningitis, and local lymphadenopathy.
Pathologically, in skin biopsy samples, endothelial cell swelling, platelet aggregation and perivascular polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and mononuclear cells are seen. This results in focal occlusive end-angiitis of small venules and arterioles. This is the typical Typhus or Wohlbach's nodule described by Wohlbach. [4]
The presence of rickettsia in India has been documented in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. [5],[6],[7],[8],[9]
The differential diagnoses to be considered in such cases are malignant syphilis, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, varicella zoster, leuocytoclastic vasculitis etc. Since VDRL was non-reactive and also the infiltrate was also not wedge-shaped or very dense at the dermo-epidermal junction, we could rule out these disorders.
As with other rickettsiae, attempts to isolate the organism are biohazardous and unnecessary. PCR may be used; however, it remains less available and more expensive than serology. Serologic testing using specific methods (e.g. immunofluorescence antibody test, indirect immunoperoxidase test, enzyme immunoassay) is superior to the Weil-Felix reaction. However, these tests are cumbersome and only available in a few special laboratories.
Comparative evaluation of Weil-Felix test and IgM ELISA for diagnosis of Scrub Typhus carried out at National Center for Disease Control, India, showed that Weil Felix test is equally sensitive with specificity of 89%. [10]
Successful therapeutic agents include doxycycline (100 mg bid orally for 1-5 days) and chloramphenicol (500 mg qid orally for 7-10 days). [11]
| References | | |
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| 2. | Uilenberg G. Newsletter on ticks and tick-borne diseases in livestock in the tropics. Univeristeit Utrecht 2008;37:26.
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| 3. | Heymann WR. Rickettsialpox. Clin Dermatol 1996;14:279-82.
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| 4. | Wohlbach SB. The Aetiology and Pathology of Typhus. Cambridge MA; Harvard University Press; 1922.
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| 5. | Mathai E, Lloyd G, Cherian T, Abraham OC, Cherian AM. Serological evidence for the continued presence of human rickettsioses in southern India. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2001;95:395-8.
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| 6. | Padbidri VS, Rodrigues JJ, Shetty PS, Joshi MV, Rao BL, Shukla RN. Tick-borne rickettsioses in Pune district, Maharashtra, India. Int J Zoonoses 1984;11:45-52.
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| 7. | Mahajan SK, Kashyap R, Sankhyan N, Sharma V, Rolain JM, Prasher BS, et al. Spotted fever group rickettsioses in Himachal Pradesh. J Assoc Physicians India 2007;55:868-70.
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| 8. | Chaudhry D, Garg A, Singh I, Tandon C, Saini R. Rickettsial diseases in Haryana: Not an uncommon entity. J Assoc Physicians India 2009;57:334-7.
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| 9. | Padbidri VS, Gupta NP. Rickettsiosis in India: A review. J Indian Med Assoc 1978;71:104-7.
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| 10. | Bhattacharya D, Mittal V, Gupta N, Dhariwal AC, Bahl A. Scrub typhus and other Rickettsiosis. CD Alert 2009;13:1-8.
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| 11. | Harrison′s Principles of Internal Medicine. 18 th ed., Vol. 1. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, editors. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2012. p. 1411.
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[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
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