Reza Khoshbakht,1,*Fatemeh Moammeri,2
1. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Introduction: Introduction: Rickettsioses are zoonoses that are caused by bacteria (genus Rickettsia) and transmitted by arthropods all over the world. These zoonoses have been recognized across the world as emerging vector-borne infections. Human rickettsioses have become more common in recent decades. The rickettsial pathogen Rickettsia conorii causes Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), which is spread by ticks. MSF is marked by rash, fever, and eschar at the tick bite site. Although this condition has been recognized for a long time, it has received little attention in Iran. Little research on the incidence and clinical manifestations of MSF in Iran has been done.
Methods: Method: Several search keywords were used to find all relevant publications on MSF in Iran (e.g. Rickettsioses in Iran, Tick-borne rickettsioses in Iran, Mediterranean spotted fever in Iran, Rickettsia conorii in Iran). The search was limited to authentic materials from prominent database repositories among them PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, SCOPUS, and SID by two persons individually. The search items included peer-reviewed journals, books, and book chapters published between 1996 and 2021.
Results: Result: A total of 43 scientific articles and reports were found, with 13 of them meeting the search criteria and being reviewed. Two of the 13 studies studied MSF in Iran, while the other eleven investigated vectors potentially spread Rickettsia conorii to humans. Serological methods used on samples taken from patients revealed the presence of Rickettsia conorii.
Conclusion: Discussion: In past years, rickettsial infection in Iran may have been underreported. Misdiagnosis is due to a variety of factors, including a lack of expertise and inadequate diagnostic methods. Several countries have a large number of ticks that can spread rickettsiae (e.g. Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Oman). Because all of these factors are present in the Middle East, the disease is extremely likely to spread in the region. Despite strong evidence of organisms that cause MSF in the Middle East, few investigations on the disease have been done in Iran. As a result, investigations on MSF Rickettsiae are needed to better understand the epidemiology in Iran.