Rickettsial diseases are a group of infectious diseases caused by various species of bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia . These bacteria are typically transmitted to humans through the bites of infected arthropods, such as ticks, fleas, and lice. Rickettsial diseases are characterized by a range of symptoms, which can vary depending on the specific type of rickettsial infection but often include fever, headache, rash, and muscle aches.
Some well-known rickettsial diseases include:
- Rickettsialpox - caused by Rickettsia akari , this disease is transmitted by mite bites and is generally milder than other rickettsial infections.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever - caused by Rickettsia rickettsii , this disease is transmitted by tick bites and is prevalent in the Americas.
- Scrub typhus - caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (formerly classified as a Rickettsia), this disease is transmitted by chigger bites and is common in parts of Asia and the Pacific.
- Typhus - there are different types of typhus, including epidemic typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii (transmitted by lice) and murine typhus caused by Rickettsia typhi (transmitted by fleas).
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