RICKETTSIAL ZOONOSES

Rickettsial zoonoses are a group of specific communicable disease caused by rickettsial organisms and
transmitted to man by arthropod vectors.

CLASSIFICATION

SL.no Disease Rickettsial Insect Mammalian

agent vector reservoirs
1. Typhus
groups
a. R. Prowazekii Louse Humans
Epidemic
typhus
b. Murine R.typhi Flea Rodents
typhus
c. Scrub R. Mite Rodents
typhus Tsutsugamushi

2. Spotted
fever
group
a Indian R. Conorii Tick Rodents, dogs
tick
typhus
b Rocky R. Rickettsii Tick Rodents, dogs
mountain
spotted
fever
c R. Akari Mite Mice
Rickettsial
pox
3. Others
a Q fever C. Burnetii Nil Cattle, sheep,
goats
b Trench Rochalimaea Louse Humans
fever quintana

CLINICAL FEATURES

Fever

Headache

Malaise

Prostration
Skin rash

Enlargement of liver & spleen

Diagnostic tests

Complete fixation test

Weil Felix reaction

ELISA

Flourescent antibody staining

Drug of choice

Tetracycline

SCRUB TYPHUS

It is a disease caused by rickettsiae in man & it is the most wide spread.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS

Agent: R. Tsutsugamushi

Reservoir: Tromibiculid mite

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

Mite------ rats & mice----Mite---- Rats & mice

Mite------ Man

The disease is not directly transmitted from person to person

INCUBATION PERIOD:

Usually 10-12 days, varies from 6-21 days

CLINICAL FEATURES

Chills & fever

Headache, malaise, prostration

Macular rash (5th day)

Generalized lymphadenopathy

Lymphocytosis
Punched out ulcer covered with a blackened scab

Control measures

Treatment: Tetracycline (DOC)

Vector control: Application of insecticides

Murine typhus ( Endemic or flea- borne typhus)

MT is a zoonoses. It is worldwide in distribution especially in areas of high rat infestation.

Agent: R. Typhii

Reservoir of Infection: Rats

Mode of Transmission:

Rat----rat flea----Rat----Rat flea---Rat

Rat flea---- man

INCUBATION PERIOD

1-2 weeks, commonly 12 days

Indian tick typhus

Mode of Transmission

Tick----Tick----Tick

Tick---Dog----Tick

Tick-----Man

Incubation period

3-7 days

Clinical features

Fever, malaise, headache

Rash appears first on the extremities( ankles & wrist), moves centripetally & involves rest of the body.

Control measures

Treatment

Broad spectrum antibiotics

Q fever: It is a highly infectious zoonotic disease with world wide distribution.

Mode of Transmission:

Inhalation of infected dust

Through aerosols

Ingestion of contaminated foods

Incubation period

2-3 weeks

Treatment:

Doxycycline (DOC)