African tick typhus, 1. a rickettsial infection transmitted by ixodid (hard) ticks and characterized by fever, chills, maculopapular rash, headache, myalgia, arthralgias, and swollen lymph nodes. At the onset of the infection, a local lesion called tache noire appears at the site of the tick bite. The rash usually begins on the forearms and spreads over the rest of the body. The fever may persist into the second week, but death or complications are rare. 2. tickborne rickettsial disease of the eastern hemisphere similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but less severe.
