Rickettsialpox and Spotted Fever Quiz

Rickettsial Infections

• Rickettsialpox is caused by a species transmitted through mites.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii.
• Boutonneuse fever is another notable rickettsial disease.
• Australian/Queensland tick typhus is transmitted by ticks.
• Mediterranean and Israeli spotted fever are associated with specific geographical regions.
• Indian tick typhus and Kenya tick typhus are also part of rickettsial infections.

Typhus Infections

• Rickettsia prowazekii is noteworthy for its transmission through lice, causing epidemic typhus.
• Brill-Zinsser disease results from reactivation of R. prowazekii.
• Rickettsia typhi, transmitted by fleas, causes murine typhus.
• Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted by mites.
• R. tsutsugamushi has a complex life cycle involving small mammals.

Other Tick-Borne Infections

• Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, typically transmitted through contaminated aerosols from animal products.
• Human monocyte ehrlichiosis is characterized by infection of monocytes.
• Human granulocyte ehrlichiosis targets neutrophils.

Vector and Host Relationships

• Trench fever is caused by Bartonella quintana, transmitted via human body louse.
• Carrion's disease and Oroya fever are caused by Bartonella bacilliformis, prevalent in Peru and Ecuador.
• CSD (Cat Scratch Disease) is associated with Bartonella henselae.

Mycoplasma and Atypical Bacteria

• Mycoplasma hominis is associated with salpingitis and post-partum fever in females.
• Fried egg colonies are characteristic of mycoplasma cultures.
• Eaton's agent refers to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, known for causing primary atypical pneumonia.

Chlamydia Infections

• C. trachomatis has two notable subtypes: A-C causes endemic trachoma, and L1-L3 causes lymphogranuloma venereum.
• The TWAR strain is associated with respiratory infections.

Bacterial Structure and Transmission

• Chlamydia are obligate intracellular parasites that present as elementary bodies.
• Spirochetes are tightly coiled, resembling stretched spirals, and include agents of relapsing fever.
• Louse-borne relapsing fever is linked to Borrelia recurrentis.

Lyme Disease and Its Features

• Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by Ixodes ticks.
• Erythema migrans is a hallmark sign of Lyme disease, presenting as a bull's-eye rash.
• The gold standard serological test for Lyme disease is a two-tiered test process.

Treponema Infections

• Treponema pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis, historically known by various names.
• Primary syphilis causes a chancre, while secondary syphilis manifests with a rash and systemic symptoms.
• Hutchinsonian triad associated with T. pallidum includes dental abnormalities, ocular issues, and deafness.
• Laboratory diagnosis of syphilis often involves serological testing, with benzathine penicillin as the treatment of choice.

Other Related Infections

• Yaws and bejel are nonvenereal treponematoses affecting skin and bones, with unique regional distributions.
• Pinta causes ulcerative skin disease.
• Leptospira, the causative agent of leptospirosis, is found in water and soil, and is shed in animal urine.
• Weil's disease represents a severe form of leptospirosis, involving multiple organ systems.