Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by which organism?

Prepare for the NBME Microbiology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each query comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by which organism?

Explanation:
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium in the spotted fever group, Rickettsia rickettsii. This organism is transmitted by Dermacentor ticks and targets endothelial cells, leading to fever and the characteristic rash. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus, while Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis cause anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, respectively. Thus, the bacterium responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever is Rickettsia rickettsii.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium in the spotted fever group, Rickettsia rickettsii. This organism is transmitted by Dermacentor ticks and targets endothelial cells, leading to fever and the characteristic rash. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus, while Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis cause anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, respectively. Thus, the bacterium responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever is Rickettsia rickettsii.

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