| [epidemiologic features of mediterranean spotted fever in portugal]. | mediterranean spotted fever (msf) is a tick-borne rickettsial disease. it is endemic in portugal and ricardo jorge recognized it in 1930. rhipicephalus sanguineus is the main vector and reservoir of the disease. in portugal the etiologic agents are two strains of rickettsia conorii complex: r. conorii malish and "israeli tick typhus". msf is clinically characterized by a vasculitis process with the classical clinical triad of fever, rash, and lesion at the site of tick bite. although the majorit ... | 2003 | 15631855 |