Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
RICKETTSIA
AND
COXIELLA
Prof. Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh
Rickettsia species
Gram-negative bacilli
Obligate intracellular parasites
All associated with an arthropod
vector
Pathogenic species parasitize
endothelial cells almost exclusively
2 antigenically distinct groups
• Typhus group
• Spotted fever group
Pathogenesis
The organisms enter the body
through the bite or faeces of an
infected arthropod vector
Disseminate through bloodstream
>> endothelial cells by induced
phagocytosis >> escape from
phagosome >> multiply intra-
cellularly >> destroy host cell
Rickettsial Diseases
Epidemic typhus
• Transmitted from human to human
by R. prowazekii
• Vector: body louse (Pediculus humanus)
• Incubation period: 5-15 days
• Macular rash: 4-7 days after illness
and begin to fade after 1-2 days
• In severe: rash may last longer and
become haemorrhagic
Flea-borne fevers (Murine typhus)
• R. typhi
• Rats and their infected fleas
• Tropical and subtropical coastal
regions
• Ports with large number of rats
• Disease: similar to epidemic typhus
but milder
Tick-borne spotted fever (group)
• Example: R. rickettsii
• Can be life-threatening
• Maintained in enzootic cycle (ticks
and their wild animal hosts)
Scrub typhus
• Orientia tsutsugamushi (previously
R. tsutsugamushi )
• Larval stages (chiggers) of mites
(Leptotrombidium)
• Hosts: Rats or other small mammals
Laboratory Diagnosis
Serological Methods
• Weil-Felix test (Agglutination test)
Somatic Ags of non-motile Proteus
species
Not reliable >> low levels of sensitivity
and specificity
• Detection of Abs to Rickettsia species by:
Immunofluorescence
Latex agglutination
Enzyme immuno-assay
• Death may occur before detectable levels of Ab
are present
Isolation of the Organism
• In cell culture
• In susceptible laboratory animal
• Not practicle
Q fever
• Typhoid-like illness
• Almost worldwide distribution
• Reservoirs: wild and domestic animals
• Infection results from inhalation of
aerosols containing the organism
Coxiella burnetii
Coxiella burnetii
Laboratory Diagnosis
• Demonstration of specific Abs
Complement fixation test
Indirect immunofluorescence
assay
• Isolation of organism
Not recommended
Treatment
• Doxycycline
Control