Sketchy Micro: Rickettisa Rickettsii

Question 1

Briefly run through the characteristics of Rickettsia.

Answer 1

• Poor Gram staining (like the audience dressed in white)
• Treated with tetracyclines (like the ads for Ricket’s tires)
• Obligate intracellular (like the scene taking place indoors)
• Stains with Giemsa
• Doesn’t make CoA or NAD+ (CoAch with NAD water)

Question 2

How is Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted?

Answer 2

By the dermacentor tick (like the ticks on the rock wall in the Derma-Center arena)

Question 3

What are the symptoms of Rickettsia rickettsii infection?

Answer 3

• A spotted rash that starts on the hands and feet and progresses to include the whole body (like the climbers who get red spots starting on their hands and feet –at the bottom – and moving to their whole body –at the top)
• Fever (climber sweating on top)
• Headache (climber grabbing his head on top)
• Myalgia (climbing makes your muscles sore!)