Co-infection with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Rickettsia japonica after Tick Bite, Japan

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome was diagnosed in a febrile woman in Japan after a tick bite. However, Rickettsia japonica DNA was retrospectively detected in the eschar specimen, suggesting co-infection from the bite. Establishment of the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection might have overpowered the R. japonica infection.

Automated summary

A febrile woman in Japan was diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome after a tick bite, but retrospectively, Rickettsia japonica DNA was detected in the eschar specimen, suggesting a possible co-infection. The establishment of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection may have dominated the R. japonica infection.