TY - JOUR AU - Lepidi, Hubert AU - Fournier, Pierre-Edouard AU - Raoult, Didier T1 - Histologic Features and Immunodetection of African Tick-bite Fever Eschar T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2006 VL - 12 IS - 9 SP - 1332 SN - 1080-6059 AB - African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is a rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia africae. We describe histologic features and immunodetection of R. africae in cutaneous inoculation eschars from 8 patients with ATBF, which was diagnosed by culture or association of positive PCR detection and positive serologic results. We used quantitative image analysis to compare the pattern of inflammation of these eschars with those from Mediterranean spotted fever. We evaluated the diagnostic value of immunohistochemical techniques by using a monoclonal antibody to R. africae. ATBF eschars were histologically characterized by inflammation of vessels composed mainly of significantly more polymorphonuclear leukocytes than are found in cases of Mediterranean spotted fever (p<0.05). Small amounts R. africae antigens were demonstrated by immunohistochemical examination in 6 of 8 patients with ATBF. Neutrophils in ATBF are a notable component of the host reaction, perhaps because ATBF is a milder disease than the other rickettsioses. Immunohistochemical detection of rickettsial antigens may be useful in diagnosing ATBF. KW - African tick-bite fever KW - “tâche noire,” eschar KW - Rickettsia africae KW - cutaneous biopsy KW - pathology KW - immunohistochemistry KW - research KW - France DO - 10.3201/eid1209.051540 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/12/9/05-1540_article ER - End of Reference