Diagnosis of murine typhus by serology in peninsular Malaysia: A case report where rickettsial illnesses, leptospirosis and dengue co-circulate

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
• Main Author: Yuhana Y.; Tanganuchitcharnchai A.; Sujariyakul P.; Sonthayanon P.; Chotivanich K.; Paris D.H.; Pukrittayakamee S.; Blacksell S.D.; Hanboonkunupakarn B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075800736&doi=10.3390%2ftropicalmed4010023&partnerID=40&md5=6b7595b2c8956b81b1e74a7a95961881

Murine typhus is a rarely diagnosed cause of acute febrile illness in Malaysia, and its true disease burden is unknown. We report a case of an acute murine typhus infection in a patient living in a small city in Peninsular Malaysia, presenting with fever, rash, and headache. Unresponsive to the initial empirical treatment for leptospirosis, he showed a rapid response to doxycycline when murine typhus was diagnosed later. This case highlights the importance of considering murine typhus as a diagnostic in cases of acute febrile illness in urban and sub-urban areas, such as that of in Peninsular Malaysia. © 2019 by the authors.