Le Rickettsiosi

Rickettsioses are infectious diseases with an acute course, epidemic or endemic diffusion in different areas of the world, characterized by fever and by a maculopapular or vescicular or petechial rash, provoked by schizomycetes belonging to Rickettsia species. Among the various different species, Rickettsia Conorii is the only one present in the Mediterranean basin and is responsible of the spotted Mediterranean fever, the sole endemic Rickettsiosis in Italy. It causes a disease with acute course but benign evolution, characterized by a maculopapular-nodular rash. Identified by Conor and Bruch in 1909 in Tunisia, it has been found for the first time in Italy in 1920 by Carducci. In this work the diffusion of spotted Mediterranean fever, from its inoculation in man with the canine tick bite until the complete development of the disease, was reviewed. Diagnosis relies on clinic and laboratory findings, and is based on the increase of antibody titre in at least two consecutive serum samples. Therapy still relies on the use of antibiotics, tetracycline and cloramphenicol, in the adults, and macrolides in pediatric age.