Spotted fever group rickettsioses documented in Morocco

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is caused by Rickettsia conorii conorii transmitted by the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is endemic in the Mediterranean area, where most of the cases are encountered during the summer, when the tick vectors are highly active [1]. In Morocco, MSF has been the sole human tick-borne rickettsiosis known by clinicians, and cases that are clinically recognized are rarely documented [2]. Our aim is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of MSF in Casablanca and in the surrounding regions of Morocco.