Question

Discuss Rockey Mountain Spotted Fever. What is a Rickettsial organism and how does it differ from other groups of bacteria. Discuss the life cycle of the disease including the vector and the host, the symptoms of the disease, and transmission. How important is the disease in Texas and how can you prevent being infected even if you were bitten by an infected tick? What is the treatment for the disease?

Answer 1

Rocky mountain spotted fever is caused by the biting of ticks carrying a bacteria named Rickettsia rickettsii. These groups of bacteria are different form others because, they can be spread by arthropod vectors such as lice, fleas, mites and ticks.They are obligate intracellular parasites.

So, the vector of this disease is ticks. The host is human. The symptoms are: High fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, feeling confused and rashes. The symptom usually begin between 2 to 14 days after getting a tick bite. and may persist for 2 to 3 weeks.The disease is transmitted by ticks. If the tick bites you and feeds on you for 6 to 10 hours, you are likely to contact this disease.But If you are bitten by an infected tick, and you immediately remove it, then there is lw chance of infection. As treatment, medications such a antibiotics are given to the patient. it is really important in texas because each year, there is some cases of this disease in texas.