rickettsia
/rɪˈkɛtsɪə
/noun (plural rickettsiae /rɪˈkɛtsɪiː/ or rickettsias)
Any of a group of very small bacteria that include the causative agents of typhus and various other febrile diseases in humans. Like viruses, many of them can only grow inside living cells, and they are frequently transmitted by mites, ticks, or lice.
- Genus Rickettsia, order Rickettsiales; Gram-negative rods.
- It was interesting to note that neither the viruses nor the rickettsiae multiplied in this cell line.
- Typhus is caused by rickettsia, bacteria-like microorganisms transmitted through blood-sucking insects such as fleas, lice, and ticks.
Derivatives
rickettsial
- Other viral, bacterial, and rickettsial diseases (such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) have also created a niche for themselves in response to behavioral and environmental changes.
- Post-infectious glomerulonephritis has also been associated with other bacterial, viral, parasitic, rickettsial and fungal infections.
- Serology showed no recent mycoplasma, legionella, or rickettsial infection, and a serum cryptococcal latex agglutination test was negative.
Origin
Modern Latin, named after Howard Taylor Ricketts (1871–1910), American pathologist.