Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis
Pathogen
Rickettsia parkeri
Carried by
Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is a spotted-fever-group infection carried by the Gulf Coast tick. It's generally milder than Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and rarely fatal, but shares the same family of bacteria and responds to the same treatment.
Symptoms
- A dark scab (eschar) at the bite site
- Fever and rash
- Headache and muscle aches
Testing
Swab or biopsy of the eschar for PCR, plus antibody testing.
Labs often used in the Lyme community:
See our Testing Guide to understand your options.
Geography
Gulf Coast and southeastern states — Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and expanding — following the Gulf Coast tick.
Explore the Where Ticks Live map to see what's carried in your region.
Treatment overview
Doxycycline, like other spotted-fever infections.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from RMSF?
It's caused by a related but different Rickettsia, tends to be milder, and usually produces an eschar (dark scab) at the bite site. Both are treated with doxycycline.