Rickettsia

Rickettsia

Rickettsia (pronounced: rik-et-see-uh) is a genus of non-motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, highly pleomorphic bacteria that can present as cocci (0.1 μm in diameter), rods (1–4 μm long), or thread-like (10 μm long).

Etymology

The term "Rickettsia" is named after Howard Taylor Ricketts, an American pathologist, who first discovered that ticks transmit diseases to humans.

Classification

Rickettsia is a genus of the family Rickettsiaceae in the order Rickettsiales, class Alphaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria.

Pathogenesis

Rickettsia species are transmitted by numerous types of arthropod, including chigger, ticks, fleas, and lice, and are associated with both human and plant disease. Most notably, Rickettsial pathogens cause diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, and Q fever.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of rickettsial disease can be challenging due to the non-specific presentation of symptoms. Laboratory testing is often necessary to confirm a diagnosis. This can include serology, skin biopsy, and PCR testing.

Treatment

The primary treatment for Rickettsia infections is antibiotic therapy. The most commonly used antibiotics are doxycycline and chloramphenicol.

Related Terms

• Rickettsiaceae
• Rickettsiales
• Alphaproteobacteria
• Proteobacteria
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Typhus
• Q fever
• Doxycycline
• Chloramphenicol

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Rickettsia
• Wikipedia's article - Rickettsia

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