Rickettsia Infections

Rickettsia
comprise of of small
•

group
e

non-motile Cocco bacilli that

gram
ne
posses
-

the
following common characteristics :

cir
Obligate intracellular
organisms
iii. Not cultivable in Artificial media can
grow
.

lines inoculation
in cell , or
by Animal or
egg
.

Iii; Transmitted
by Arthropod vectors ( as tick ,
mite .
flea )
Infect Vascular endothelial site )
( in
cells ( final target

Rickettsia be
•
can
categorized into two
groups
based

clinical
on
manifestations :

( is Typhus group
iii,
spotted fever group

Antigenic structure :

( is OMP ( Outer membrane

proteins ) -

species specific .

highly immunogenic .

Iii , LPs
antigen .

Group specific .

Pathogenesis :

•
Transmission .
All rickettsia e are transmitted to human

by arthropod vectors .
•

Spread through lymphatics from the

portal of entry .

multiply in
Regional lymph nodes & then
spread via

bloodstream .

• The
final target site is endothelial cells .

Adhesion to endothelial cells is mediated outer

•

by
membrane
protein -
Omp A &
Omp B.

Following adhesion .
the
organisms are
phagocytosed .

•
Inside the host cells .
they multiply slowly by binary
fission ( gen . time =
9- 12 hrs )

Spotted fever rickettsia e can

spread from cell to cell

by actin polymerization .
others accumulate until

the
lysis of cells .
 Clinical
Manifestations :

( is Epidemic Typhus -

Rash

( Louse borne )
- -

Myalgia
-

Complications like Inter steal Pneumoni

- tis .

Mental
confusion & coma .

If not treated .
prompty can be
fatal in F- 40%

cases .

cii , Endemic Typhus ( Flea - borne ) :

Fever headache
-

, ,
myalgia ,
anorexia & rash .

-
Milder than Epidemic typhus .

ciii , Rocky Mountain spotted Fever :

Potentially fatal characterised

by Fever ,
Myalgia .

Anorexia ,
Rash ( Maculopapular ,
later
hemorrhagic )
civ , Indian Tick Typhus :

Similar to RMS
fever
•

• Disease is more severe in

patients with diabetes ,

alcoholism or heart
failure .

Rickettsia :
in
pox

Common similar
symptoms are .
•

• Vesicular rashes .

• Eschar ( painless black crusted lesions surrounded

tons halo )
by erythema
laboratory Diagnosis :

④ Apurba Sastry
Microbiology .

Treatment :

-
(alternative )
•

Doxycycline ( for 1- 5
days )
-

Doc . Chloramphenicol