Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Species

Rickettsial
bacterial

Transmission time

Symptoms typically occur 2-12 days after a tick bite
Headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting may be occur first followed by a quick progression into more severe and life threatening symptoms
A spotted rash varying in presentation will occur in most patients.
Blood vessel damage may lead to amputation if left untreated.
Mental and physical disability occur in severe cases.

Immunostaining of skin biopsies can confirm the presence of Rickettsia amblyommii & Rickettsia spp.
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assays (IFA) is a two-part test used to detect antibodies.
- The first sample is collected within 7 days of infection and will be compared to the second sample collected 2-4 weeks after infection.
If the second sample shows the number of antibodies present has increased since the first sample was tested, the results are positive for Rickettsia.
False positives are common for the first part of the test.
Blood test results of low platelet count, low sodium levels, or elevated liver enzyme levels can assist with diagnosis.

Rickettsia species will infect cells that line blood vessels causing vascular inflammation known as Rickettsial vasculitis.