RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Murine Typhus: Endemic Rickettsia in Southwest Texas
JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
JO Clin Lab Sci
FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science
SP 81
OP 87
DO 10.29074/ascls.25.2.81
VO 25
IS 2
A1 Liddell, Patty W.
A1 Sparks, Mary Jean
YR 2012
UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/25/2/81.abstract
AB Murine Typhus is a zoonosis caused by the organism Rickettsia typhi and is transmitted to humans by fleas. It is endemic in several areas of Texas, California and Hawaii where the vector is supported predominantly by rodents in addition to opossums, domestic and feral cats and domestic dogs. We present a typical case in an adult from Corpus Christi, located in one of the four endemic areas in Texas. Included is an overview of the organism's pathogenicity and our host responses, both influencing the milder clinical course seen with this species of Rickettsia.ABBREVIATIONS: PCR – Polymerase Chain Reaction, DDT – dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, CDC – Centers for Disease Controland Prevention, INF – Interferon, TNF – Tumor Necrosis Factor, NK – Natural Killer Cell, LCMV- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus, CMV - Cytomegalovirus