Rickettsia akari: Difference between revisions

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Rickettsia akari
m (Aidan moved page Rickettsialpox (R. akari) to Rickettsia akari without leaving a redirect)
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* Causes '''rickettsialpox'''
= Rickettsialpox (''R. akari'') =
 
   
== Microbiology ==
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= Microbiology =
   
 
* Disease caused by ''Rickettsia akari'', an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium
 
* Disease caused by ''Rickettsia akari'', an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium
 
* Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid
 
* Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid
   
== Epidemiology ==
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= Epidemiology =
   
 
* Transmitted by the house mouse mite (''Liponyssoides sanguineus'')
 
* Transmitted by the house mouse mite (''Liponyssoides sanguineus'')
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* Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors
 
* Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors
   
== Clinical Presentation ==
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= Clinical Presentation =
   
 
* Incubation period of 7 to 14 days
 
* Incubation period of 7 to 14 days
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* May find leukocytosis
 
* May find leukocytosis
   
== Diagnosis ==
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= Diagnosis =
   
 
* Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies
 
* Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies
   
== Management ==
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= Management =
   
 
* Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help
 
* Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help
 
* Doxycycline 100 mg po bid for 2 to 5 days and 48 h after fever resolves
 
* Doxycycline 100 mg po bid for 2 to 5 days and 48 h after fever resolves
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[[Category:Rickettsioses]]

Revision as of 20:27, 14 August 2019

  • Causes rickettsialpox

Microbiology

  • Disease caused by Rickettsia akari, an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium
  • Unlike most rickettsiae, it has a plasmid

Epidemiology

  • Transmitted by the house mouse mite (Liponyssoides sanguineus)
    • Rodents are the reservoir
  • Most cases are in New York, but it is found worldwide
  • Most likely rickettsiosis to be found in Ontario
  • Homelessness and IV drug use are risk factors

Clinical Presentation

  • Incubation period of 7 to 14 days
  • Present with fever, vesicular rash, and eschar
    • Headache also common
  • The eschar is painless, and appears as a papule about a week after innoculation, followed by vesicle that dries and leaves a brown or black eschar
  • The rash is vesicular, but may be papulovesicular or any other type of rash
    • Lesions leaves black crust and heal without scarring
    • Spares palms and soles
    • Resolves in two to three weeks
  • May find leukocytosis

Diagnosis

  • Detection of a four-fold rise in convalescent titres by complement fixation or indirect fluorescent antibodies

Management

  • Usually self-limited, resolving in 7 to 10 days, though antibiotics help
  • Doxycycline 100 mg po bid for 2 to 5 days and 48 h after fever resolves