Neorickettsia sennetsu causes an illness in Southeast Asia. The organism was first classified as a Rickettsia, then an Ehrlichia and now a Neorickettsia.
Countries affected: Japan, Laos, Malaysia
Transmission: eating raw fish
Clinical features:
(1) infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome with atypical lymphocytosis
(2) fever
(3) weakness
(4) anorexia
(5) generalized lymphadenopathy
(6) hepatosplenomegaly
(7) jaundice
Diagnosis can be made by:
(1) detecting anti-N.sennetsu antibodies
(2) PCR
Therapy with tetracyclines is effective.
The infection can be prevented by cooking the fish.
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