Marseilles fever /märsālz″, märsā″/ [Marseille, France; L, febris, fever] , a disease endemic around the Mediterranean, in Africa, in the Crimea, and in India, caused by Rickettsia conorii transmitted by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Characteristic symptoms are chills, fever, an ulcer covered with a black crust at the site of the tick bite, and a rash appearing on the second to fourth day. Also called boutonneuse fever, Bruch’s disease, Conor’s disease, escharonodulaire, Indian tick fever, Kenya fever.
