How are other tickborne spotted fevers diagnosed and treated?
Many other tickborne spotted fevers exhibit strong immunlogic cross-reactivity with assays for R. rickettsii. It is possible to utilize commercially available serologic assays as a surrogate diagnostic tool, coupled with patient presentation and possible travel history that may point to a specific rickettsial illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can offer more specialized serologic assays for assessment of the etiologic agent, although these are limited in their ability to clearly define an etiologic agent due to cross-reactivity. If a more specific diagnosis is desired, a skin biopsy of a rash or eschar site can be submitted to CDC for more assessment through PCR or culture. As with other TBRD, the other spotted fever tickborne diseases described here respond well to treatment with doxycycline, and this is considered the antibiotic of choice. Be sure to tell your physician if you become ill within 2 weeks of a tick bite or exposure to tick habitat, either within the
