Rickettsia typhi: Difference between revisions

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Rickettsia typhi
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* Causes '''murine typhus''' or '''flea-borne typhus'''
* Causes '''murine typhus''' or '''flea-borne typhus'''


= Microbiology =
== Microbiology ==


* Flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium ''Rickettsia typhi''
* Flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium ''Rickettsia typhi''


= Life Cycle =
== Life Cycle ==


* Flea bites, flea poops, feces get rubbed into the bite wound
* Flea bites, flea poops, feces get rubbed into the bite wound
* Flea acquires infection from feeding on a rickettsemic host
* Flea acquires infection from feeding on a rickettsemic host


= Epidemiology =
== Epidemiology ==


* Flea vector (''Xenopsylla cheopis'') with a rat reservoirs (''Rattus'' spp.)
* Flea vector (''Xenopsylla cheopis'') with a rat reservoirs (''Rattus'' spp.)
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* In the US, most cases are in southern Texas and California
* In the US, most cases are in southern Texas and California


= Clinical Presentation =
== Clinical Presentation ==


* Incubation period of 1 to 2 weeks, but rarely remember flea exposure
* Incubation period of 1 to 2 weeks, but rarely remember flea exposure

Revision as of 19:29, 15 August 2019

  • Causes murine typhus or flea-borne typhus

Microbiology

  • Flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Rickettsia typhi

Life Cycle

  • Flea bites, flea poops, feces get rubbed into the bite wound
  • Flea acquires infection from feeding on a rickettsemic host

Epidemiology

  • Flea vector (Xenopsylla cheopis) with a rat reservoirs (Rattus spp.)
    • Also, cat flea vector (Ctenocephalides felis) in sourthern US
    • Possibly opossums as reservoirs
  • Worldwide distribution
  • In the US, most cases are in southern Texas and California

Clinical Presentation

  • Incubation period of 1 to 2 weeks, but rarely remember flea exposure
  • Fever, headache, nausea and vomiting are common, as well as myalgias
  • Rash develops over the course
    • Usually described as maculopapular, sometimes with petechiae
    • On trunk, but can involve extremities
    • Rarely on palms and soles
  • May have leukopenia and thrombocytopenia early in the course
  • Elevated AST is common, as well as other liver enzymes
  • Further nausea/vomiting and anorexia, cough, and hepatosplenomegaly may all develop
  • Neurologic complications include confusion, seizures, and ataxia
  • They often develop hypoalbuminemia and electrolyte abnormalities such as hyponatremia and hypocalcemia
  • CSF shows aseptic meningitis
  • 1 to 4% mortality
  • Sort of like a milder version of R. prowazekii