ABSTRACT

We have described the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of 13 cases of Mediterranean spotted fever in the Trakya Region of Turkey. Patients with high fever and maculopapuler rash were admitted to the Trakya University Hospital between April and September in 2001-2002. Diagnostic titers were detected in 12 (92%) out of the 13 patients by IFA and in 6 (46%) by the Weil-Felix Proteus agglutination assay. Most of the patients (69%) were farmers, living in rural areas of three cities (Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli) with a total population of one million. The average age of 13 patients (7 males and 6 females) was 60.1±14.1 (mean ± standard deviation). All the patients had high fever (39°C) and a maculopapular rash. A rash on the palms or on the soles was observed in nine (69%) of the patients. Two cases (15%) had an eschar. The region around Trakya in Turkey is an endemic area for tick-born diseases including rickettsioses.

Keywords: Mediterranean spotted fever, rickettsioses, Trakya region, tick borne disease, Turkey