Rickettsia felis

Background

Microbiology

• One of the transitional-group Rickettsiae

Epidemiology

• Worldwide distribution
• Cats are the reservoir, and it is transmitted by the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis

Clinical Presentation

• Fevers with headache, myalgia, maculopapular rash, neurologic involvement, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory involvement