Enfermedades producidas por Rickettsia

The common pathogenesis of these diseases lie on the predominantly infection of endotelial cells, that determines the development of multisistemic small vessel vasculitis, which may affect lungs (interstitial pneumonitis), heart (miopericarditis), skin (rash), central nervous system (meningoencephalitis), as well as liver, and kidneys. They are classified in two groups: spotted-fever group, and typhus group rickettsia. In Spain the most prevalent rickettsioses of both groups are mediterranean spotted fever (caused by R. conorii), and murine typhus (caused by R. typhi), respectively. This review focuses mainly in these two diseases, and also in other rickettsioses of interest due to their recently emergence or reemergence (R. slovaca, R. africae, R. prowazekii, R. felis), or to their high incidence in other areas (R. rickettsii, Orientia tsutsugamushi).