Rickettsia slovaca is a human rickettsiosis transmitted by the bite of the Dermacentor marginatus or Dermacentor reticulatus tick. Although R slovaca has been detected in Dermacentor ticks and furry domestic and wild animals throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, the only area of the world with reported human infection is Europe.

Infection with R slovaca is heralded by an eschar at the site of the tick bite, which is commonly in the scalp, although any part of the upper body may be affected. Scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite (SENLAT) is a common presentation. A low-grade fever, headache, fatigue, arthralgias, and myalgias may accompany the onset of SENLAT. Less common dermatologic presentations include facial edema, rare reports of facial cellulitis, and the presence of an exanthematous or a papulovesicular eruption.

Fever typically remits within days, while lymphadenopathy can persist for weeks and the other dermatologic features, including eschar and skin eruption, can last for months. Most patients will fully recover, with a small subset developing scarring alopecia at the site of the eschar.

Rickettsia slovaca infection most commonly occurs in women and children. It is posited that the longer hair of women and children attracts the ticks. The peak incidence of this infection is between March and May and between September and November. Notably, the warmest months are associated with a lower incidence.