Rocky mountain spotted fever

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University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]

Transmission electron Microscope image of Rickettsia rickettsii[2]

Classification

Taxonomy

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Alpha Proteobacteria; Rickettsiales; Rickettsiaceae; Spotted fever group

NCBI: Taxonomy

Rickettsia rickettsii

Description

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the disease associated with infection by Rickettsia rickettsii. R. rickettsii is a small rod shaped bacterium that lives within the cytoplasm of a host cell. It requires an arthropod for transmission to a human host typically through bite and is known to be caused primarily by tick bites. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can also infect other mammals, particularly dogs. The disease is characterized by a skin rash called purpura or petechiae, though the rash can occur up to five days after the onset of the other symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, and depression.[6]

Pathology

Early Stage Rash in RMSF patient.[3]

Late Stage rash in RMSF patient.[4]

Epidemiology

Graph describing incidence of RMSF in North America over time, comparing fatality and incidence changes.[5]

Biotechnology

Bioterrorism

Page in progress by Cassandra Long, student of Tyrrell Conway