Histology and serum cytokine responses in an imported rickettsia slovaca Infection, Germany

Abstract

Rickettsia slovaca, a spotted fever group rickettsial pathogen, causes a syndrome consisting of scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy following tick bite. We analyzed the histologic skin reaction in the eschar, showing a prominent eosinophilic infiltration, as well as the presence of B lymphocytes and CD4- A nd CD8-positive T cells. Examination of the serum cytokine responses over time demonstrated an initial proinflammatory cytokine elevation followed by normalization.