Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection

Scrub typhus (ST), caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is typically transmitted through mite bites, but vertical transmission from mother to infant remains poorly understood. This case presents a 13-day-old female neonate diagnosed with congenital ST. The infant developed severe systemic involvement,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yonghan Luo, Zhenghui Liao, Xianyao Yang, Hechun Li, Jinyu Chi, Zhifang Cha, Jun Liu, Chuangang Ding, Yue Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2542242
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849391067007287296
author Yonghan Luo
Zhenghui Liao
Xianyao Yang
Hechun Li
Jinyu Chi
Zhifang Cha
Jun Liu
Chuangang Ding
Yue Feng
author_facet Yonghan Luo
Zhenghui Liao
Xianyao Yang
Hechun Li
Jinyu Chi
Zhifang Cha
Jun Liu
Chuangang Ding
Yue Feng
author_sort Yonghan Luo
collection DOAJ
description Scrub typhus (ST), caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is typically transmitted through mite bites, but vertical transmission from mother to infant remains poorly understood. This case presents a 13-day-old female neonate diagnosed with congenital ST. The infant developed severe systemic involvement, including fever, jaundice, respiratory distress, and signs of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, her condition worsened. PCR and serological tests confirmed the diagnosis of ST in both the neonate and the mother, with IgM positivity indicating congenital infection. Following treatment with doxycycline, the patient's condition improved. This case adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the vertical transmission of ST and highlights the need for increased awareness of congenital ST.
format Article
id doaj-art-a1c9258f5fab4d7eb4f20249655aaa1e
institution Kabale University
issn 2222-1751
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Emerging Microbes and Infections
spelling doaj-art-a1c9258f5fab4d7eb4f20249655aaa1e2025-08-20T03:41:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512025-12-0114110.1080/22221751.2025.2542242Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infectionYonghan Luo0Zhenghui Liao1Xianyao Yang2Hechun Li3Jinyu Chi4Zhifang Cha5Jun Liu6Chuangang Ding7Yue Feng8Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of ChinaPediatric Department, NO.1 people's hospital of Dali city, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaFaculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of ChinaPediatric Department, NO.1 people's hospital of Dali city, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaClinical Laboratory, NO.1 people's hospital of Dali city, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaPediatric Department, NO.1 people's hospital of Dali city, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaImaging Department, NO.1 people's hospital of Dali city, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaPediatric Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, People’s Republic of ChinaFaculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of ChinaScrub typhus (ST), caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is typically transmitted through mite bites, but vertical transmission from mother to infant remains poorly understood. This case presents a 13-day-old female neonate diagnosed with congenital ST. The infant developed severe systemic involvement, including fever, jaundice, respiratory distress, and signs of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, her condition worsened. PCR and serological tests confirmed the diagnosis of ST in both the neonate and the mother, with IgM positivity indicating congenital infection. Following treatment with doxycycline, the patient's condition improved. This case adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the vertical transmission of ST and highlights the need for increased awareness of congenital ST.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2542242Congenital scrub typhusvertical transmissionOrientia tsutsugamushisystematic reviewneonatal sepsis
spellingShingle Yonghan Luo
Zhenghui Liao
Xianyao Yang
Hechun Li
Jinyu Chi
Zhifang Cha
Jun Liu
Chuangang Ding
Yue Feng
Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Congenital scrub typhus
vertical transmission
Orientia tsutsugamushi
systematic review
neonatal sepsis
title Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
title_full Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
title_fullStr Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
title_full_unstemmed Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
title_short Vertical transmission of scrub typhus: a case report of congenital infection
title_sort vertical transmission of scrub typhus a case report of congenital infection
topic Congenital scrub typhus
vertical transmission
Orientia tsutsugamushi
systematic review
neonatal sepsis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2542242
work_keys_str_mv AT yonghanluo verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT zhenghuiliao verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT xianyaoyang verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT hechunli verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT jinyuchi verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT zhifangcha verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT junliu verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT chuangangding verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection
AT yuefeng verticaltransmissionofscrubtyphusacasereportofcongenitalinfection