Abstract
Rickettsiae are pleomorphic obligate intracellular parasites. They are true bacteria by virtue of their 5-layered peptidoglycan cell wall containing muramic acid and diaminopimelic acid, they contain both RNA in ribosomes and DNA and they divide by binary fission. There are three genera (Rickettsia, Rochalimaea and Coxiella) within the family Rickettsiaceae and all except Coxiella are transmitted to humans by arthropods. Their endemicity is maintained by cyclic transmission from infected to uninfected arthropod through a vertebrate intermediary. Infection in humans is incidental, occurring as the result of a bite from an infected arthropod or inhalation of infectious aerosols in the case of Coxiella. The genus Rickettsia has two main subgroups, the Typhus fever group and the Spotted fever group, based on biological activity. The most important members of the family and their vectors and reservoirs are summarised in the table below.
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Reference
Ascher MS. In: Schmidt NJ, Emmons RW. Rickttsial Diseases inDiagnostic Procedures for Viral, Rickettsiae and Chlamydial Infections, 6th edn. Am Pub Hlth Assoc. 1989: 1141–64.
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© 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Coia, J., Cubie, H. (1995). Rickettsiae. In: Coia, J., Cubie, H. (eds) The Immunoassay Kit Directory. The Immunoassay Kit Directory, vol 2 / 1 / 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0359-3_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0359-3_28
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-8813-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0359-3
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