Rickettsia typhi: Difference between revisions

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Rickettsia typhi
m (Aidan moved page Murine typhus to Rickettsia typhi)
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* Causes '''murine typhus''' or '''flea-borne typhus'''
= Murine typhus (''R. typhi'') =
 
   
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= Microbiology =
* Disease caused by the flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium ''Rickettsia typhi''
 
   
 
* Flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium ''Rickettsia typhi''
== Life Cycle ==
 
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= Life Cycle =
   
 
* Flea bits, flea poops, feces get rubbed into the bite wound
 
* Flea bits, 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 ==
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= 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 ==
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= 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
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* Sort of like a milder version of ''R. prowazekii''
 
* Sort of like a milder version of ''R. prowazekii''
   
== Diagnosis ==
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= Diagnosis =
   
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[[Category:Rickettsioses]]
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Revision as of 19:00, 14 August 2019

  • Causes murine typhus or flea-borne typhus

Microbiology

  • Flea-borne Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Rickettsia typhi

Life Cycle

  • Flea bits, 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

Diagnosis