Isolation of Rickettsia typhi from human, Mexico

Abstract

Murine typhus is a febrile illness caused by Rickettsia typhi. The clinical manifestations are nonspecific, and the signs and symptoms resemble those of several other febrile illnesses. Murine typhus can be a self-limiting infection; however, it should be diagnosed and treated because complications and even death can result. In Mexico, particularly in Yucatan State, cases of murine typhus in humans and high prevalence of antibodies in healthy blood donors have been reported. In 2012, we isolated R. typhi from a human patient in southeastern Mexico by using a simple and effective method, an adaptation of the centrifugation shell vial method to cell culture plates.