L31 Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Related Bacteria Flashcards
What are the two genera in the Rickettsiaceae family?
- Rickettsia
2. Orientia
What is the important species of Orientia?
O. tsutsugamushi
What are the two groups of Rickettsia species?
- Spotted fever group
2. Typhus group
What are the 2 species of Rickettsia in the spotted fever group?
- R. rickettsii
2. R. akari
What are the 2 species of Rickettsia in the typhus group?
- R. prowazekii
2. R. typhi
Describe the structure of Rickettsia species.
- Small Gram Negative rods that stain poorly; LPS and peptidoglycan (except Orientia)
- Giemsa stain
- No flagella
- Divide via binary fission
- Slow growth over 9-12 hours
- Obligate intracellular
- Use host ATP, coA, NAD, amino acids
Describe the general pathogenesis of Rickettsiaceae organisms.
Enter the cell via phagocytosis. Escape the vacuole with phospholipase A, replicate freely in the cytoplasm. Move using cytoskeletal components (EXCEPT typhus types x3).
Describe the pathogenesis of Rickettsia rickettsii
OmpA adheres to endothelial cells. Bacteria multiply in the cells lining small blood vessels. This leads to cell damage, cell rupture, vasculitis, and a rash. Hypovolemia and hypoproteinemia occur via loss of plasma into the tissues.
Discuss the epidemiology of R. rickettsii.
- ~2000 cases annually in the U.S.
2. Majority of cases occur in South/Central United States
How is R. rickettsii transmitted?
Hard tick vectors (primarily in the summer); transovarian tramission
What is the reservoir of R. rickettsii?
Small rodents and dogs
What is the clinical manifestation of R. rickettsii?
Rocky mountain spotted fever
Describe the symptoms of RMSF. What is the incubation period?
- High fever, malaise, myalgias, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headache
- Macular rash (extremities to the trunk); can become petechial
2-7 days, up to 2 weeks
How is RMSF daignosed?
- Symptoms/epidemiology
2. MIF assay (detects OMP and LPS)
What is the treatment for RMSF?
Doxycycline
Alternative: chloramphenicol (associated with higher relapse)
Discuss the epidemiology of R. akari.
Found in the US, Ukraine, Croatia, Korea
What is the vector of R. akari?
Bloodsucking mites (transovarian transmission)
What is the reservoir of R. akari?
Mice
Describe the clinical manifestation of R. akari.
Rickettsialpox
Phase 1: Firm red papule at bite site that progresses to a vesicle and then a black eschar
Phase 2: high fever, severe headache, chills/sweats, myalgias, photophobia, papulovesicular rash
How is R. akari treated?
It’s not - self-limiting
Describe the epidemiology of R. prowazekii.
- Found in Central/South America, Africa, and sporadically in the eastern US
- Seen in unsanitary conditions
- Peaks in the winter
What is the vector for R. prowazekii?
Human body louse (in the feces of the lice); NOT transovarian
What is the reservoir for R. prowazekii?
Humans and flying squirrels
What is the clinical manifestation of R. prowazekii?
Epidemic typhus (Louse-born typhus fever)
Describe the clinical manifestation of R. prowazekii.
- Non-specific symptoms beginning 8 days post-exposure. 1-3 days later, high fever, severe headache, myalgias
- Petechial or macular rash (trunk, then extremities)
- Pneumonia, athralagia, neurologic