About Rickettsia
The rickettsiae (Rickettsia) form a kind of bacteria of the family Rickettsiaceae and the tribe Rickettsieae. Rickettsiae are, like chlamydia, compulsory intracellular parasite bacteria of small size (300 nm). They live in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. They are mainly found in arthropods which are their vectors (especially haematophages: ticks, lice and mites) causing various diseases in humans and animals (Rickettsiosis).
Available Tests for Rickettsia
IFA, ELISA, Immunoblot
Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia rickettsii-antibodies
(1x Serum/SST tube)
PCR
Rickettsia-DNA-PCR in blood
(2x EDTA tube)
Tick Test
Rickettsia-DNA-PCR
(out of the tick)
Bacteria:
Rickettsia conorii (Boutonneuse Fever), R. rickettsia (RMSF), R. helvetica, R. slovaca, R. prowazekii (gram-negative, obligate intracellular in endothelial cells).
Vector / hosts:
Rodent, dogs, humans, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor reticulatus.
Symptoms (incubation time: 5-7 days):
Fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, lymphadenitis, exanthema.
Complications (app. 13%):
peri-/myocarditis, kidney insufficiency, pneumonia, encephalitis, gastrointestinal bleedings, anemia, hepatitis, myalgia