Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
How do you treat RMSF?
-Antibiotic -Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice, and is highly effective when injected straight into the bloodstream
How do you test for RMSF?
-Bacterium identification by stain and microscopy -Identify the specific IgG antibody in serum
What is the vector for RMSF?
-Dermacentor variabilis -American Dog Tick
What are the signs/symptoms of RMSF?
-Fever -Headache -Nausea -Abdominal pain/myalgia -Rash (90% of cases)
What color do gram negative bacterium stain? Gram positive?
-Gram negative: pink/red -Gram Positive: purple
What is the mechanism by which the bacterium causes disease?
-Parasite is injected into human bloodstream by tick from saliva -Parasites get into endothelial cells of blood vessels -Bacterium divide and release protein factors -This causes osmotic potential of membrane in cell to change -Blood vessels become leaky and causes bruises/spots -If this happens in the brain it could be fatal
What is the pathogen for RMSF?
-Rickettsia rickettsii -Gram Negative Bacterium
When is the American Dog Tick most prevalent?
-Summer time -April-August
What is the incubation period for RMSF?
2-14 days
Is mortality common in RMSF?
It was prior to the development of antibiotics, but now it's nearly 0
How many ticks in Ohio are infected with the bacterium?
Less than 2%
What is the reservoir for RMSF?
Wild rodents (mammals)
