Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases.
Rickettsial diseases are a group of vector-borne bacterial infections that cause acute febrile illness with potentially severe or fatal complications. These vector-borne diseases are prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and disproportionately affect poorer communities but are scie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009353 |
| _version_ | 1818729819709374464 |
|---|---|
| author | Jeanne Salje Thomas Weitzel Paul N Newton George M Varghese Nicholas Day |
| author_facet | Jeanne Salje Thomas Weitzel Paul N Newton George M Varghese Nicholas Day |
| author_sort | Jeanne Salje |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rickettsial diseases are a group of vector-borne bacterial infections that cause acute febrile illness with potentially severe or fatal complications. These vector-borne diseases are prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and disproportionately affect poorer communities but are scientifically underrecognized. Despite this, they are not included in the World Health Organization's list of neglected tropical diseases nor were they mentioned in Peter Hotez's recent reflections on "What constitutes a neglected tropical disease?" in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases [1]. Here we present the case that rickettsial infections, as an overlooked cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic losses in marginalized populations, should be recognized as neglected tropical diseases. We describe how this oversight is the result of a number of factors and how it negatively impacts patient outcomes. We then propose measures to address the neglect of rickettsial infections in both scientific research and public health interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:51:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5126aa2bda84c22b6dc5526ba8ff866 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:51:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5126aa2bda84c22b6dc5526ba8ff8662022-12-21T21:29:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352021-05-01155e000935310.1371/journal.pntd.0009353Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases.Jeanne SaljeThomas WeitzelPaul N NewtonGeorge M VargheseNicholas DayRickettsial diseases are a group of vector-borne bacterial infections that cause acute febrile illness with potentially severe or fatal complications. These vector-borne diseases are prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and disproportionately affect poorer communities but are scientifically underrecognized. Despite this, they are not included in the World Health Organization's list of neglected tropical diseases nor were they mentioned in Peter Hotez's recent reflections on "What constitutes a neglected tropical disease?" in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases [1]. Here we present the case that rickettsial infections, as an overlooked cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic losses in marginalized populations, should be recognized as neglected tropical diseases. We describe how this oversight is the result of a number of factors and how it negatively impacts patient outcomes. We then propose measures to address the neglect of rickettsial infections in both scientific research and public health interventions.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009353 |
| spellingShingle | Jeanne Salje Thomas Weitzel Paul N Newton George M Varghese Nicholas Day Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. |
| title_full | Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. |
| title_fullStr | Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. |
| title_short | Rickettsial infections: A blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases. |
| title_sort | rickettsial infections a blind spot in our view of neglected tropical diseases |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009353 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeannesalje rickettsialinfectionsablindspotinourviewofneglectedtropicaldiseases AT thomasweitzel rickettsialinfectionsablindspotinourviewofneglectedtropicaldiseases AT paulnnewton rickettsialinfectionsablindspotinourviewofneglectedtropicaldiseases AT georgemvarghese rickettsialinfectionsablindspotinourviewofneglectedtropicaldiseases AT nicholasday rickettsialinfectionsablindspotinourviewofneglectedtropicaldiseases |