Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) - Rickettsia rickettsii

This slide is a skin biopsy from a person infected with Rickettsia rickettsii (the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever). It shows necrosis, vasculitis, and inflammation.

RMSF is a serious, life-threatening tick-borne disease. It's often misdiagnosed. A classic RMSF symptom is a rash, which occurs in about 90% of patients. The disease was first identified in the Rocky Mountains, but can also be found in parts of Canada, Mexico, as well as South and Central America.

comments (8)

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

TRIGGERED! Haha! Yuckyyyyyyy bacterium! *flips off this photo* ;P Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Lol. in your honor, of course. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
    
    Lion
    
    ickity ewwwww :D really pretty slide though! Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks. It's a pretty meanie. Posted 4 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Very interesting! Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I know. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    You're confident today, good :) Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Or, snarky. I’m not sure. But, thanks. Posted 4 years ago

The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

''Rickettsia rickettsii'' is a Gram-negative, intracellular, coccobacillus bacterium that is around 0.8 to 2.0 μm long. ''R. rickettsii'' is the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. ''R. rickettsii'' is one of the most pathogenic ''Rickettsia'' strains. It affects a large majority of the Western Hemisphere and small portions of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Rickettsiales

Species identified by Christine Young