Obligate Intercellular bac- Rickettsia

Question 1

General characteristics of rickettsiae (type, how they multiply)

Answer 1

gram negative coccobacilli
multiply thru binary fission

(stained best with gimenez stain)

Question 2

How is rickettsia transmitted

Answer 2

vector transmitted

-by arthropods (mites, fleas, lice)

Question 3

Which rickettsias is a reportable disease

Answer 3

coxiella burnetti

Question 4

How does rickettsia rickettsii (rocky mountain fever) adhes and evade cell

Answer 4

has adhesions that attach and then trick cell to engulph them

-then produce phospholipase that disolves phagolysosome membrane so they can escape

Question 5

How does rickettsia rickettsii (rocky mountain fever) affect you physcially

Answer 5

invade and replicate in endothelial cells of smaller blood vessels cuaseing vasculitis (endothelial cell damage)

-causes small hemorages and thrombi

Question 6

what is the triad of symptoms for rickettsia rickettsii (rocky mountain fever)

Answer 6

1. Follows tick bite
2. Fever after 5-14 days
3. Macular rash appearing on day 2-4 of fever that begins on extremities and travels centrally

Question 7

How is rickettsia rickettsii (rocky mountain fever) treated

Answer 7

oxycycline started before test results

Question 8

How is coxiella burnetti (cox fever) transmitted + from what

Answer 8

ticks give it to cattle/goats

then travels airborne or thru injestion to humans

Question 9

what is the clinical picture of q fever (triad?)

Answer 9

fever, pneumonia and hepititis

-very low ID 50

Question 10

What is the treatment of q fever

Answer 10

Doxycycline

Question 11

What does ehrlichia chaffeensis (HME) target in humans and its symptoms + treatment

Answer 11

target cells are the monocytes and macrophages

-flu like symptoms

doxycline

Question 12

What is anaplasma phagocytophilim

Answer 12

Causes HGA (similar to ehrlichia)
targets neutrophils