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

• Main Authors: Yazli Yuhana, Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai, Pimpan Sujariyakul, Piengchan Sonthayanon, Kesinee Chotivanich, Daniel H. Paris, Sasithon Pukrittayakamee, Stuart D. Blacksell, Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn
• Other Authors: Universitat Basel
• Format: Article
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Immunology and Microbiology; Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/51149
• Institution: Mahidol University

© 2019 by the authors. 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.