Epidemiological characteristics of rickettsial diseases in Croatia

Abstract

Objective: To show the presence and prevalence of rickettsial diseases and the geographic distribution in Croatia. Methods: The pattern of these diseases was monitored during the 1992-2003 period. Results: The rickettsial diseases that occur sporadically in the littoral of Croatia (Adriatic islands and the coastal area) include Mediterranean spotted fever, murine typhus, Brill-Zinsser disease, and a clinical entity known as rickettsioses. Mediterranean spotted fever and murine typhus are considered to be endemic exclusively in Dalmatia. Conclusion: The term rickettsioses has been used because of inadequate laboratory differentiation of causative agents; therefore, the species of rickettsiae responsible for this clinical entity remains unknown. Highly efficient, military, infectious disease research should be continued, to shed more light on this important issue. Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2005.