How can people be exposed to the agent via wildlife?
What vector does this disease spread through?
Ticks
(CDC 2024a)
Name three of the seven possible symptoms associated with RMSF.
Acute fever, headache, cough, GI complaints, red eyes, myalgia, petechial rash.
(Phillips 2017)
True or false: Rocky mountain spotted fever is one of the least serious tick-borne diseases.
False, it is the most serious.
(CDC 2024c)
Is there a vaccine for humans?
There is currently no vaccine. The best practice is prevention!
(CDC 2024a)
RMSF is primarily transmitted and maintained within tick populations by what method?
Vertical/Transovarial transmission.
(Comer 1991)
What house pet can bring this disease closer to humans?
Dogs
(Ohio Department of Health 2022)
When do symptoms associated with RMSF appear?
2-14 days after an infected tick's bite.
(Philips 2017)
Why is the risk of exposure so high to humans?
This is because of man's best friend, the dog! Ticks can easily attach to your dog (or you!), or your dogs bring them into your home, and they attach to you.
(Snowden and Simonsen 2023)
How do you prevent tick bites?
Avoid areas that have high densities of ticks.
(CDC 2024b)
When is RMSF ‘season’ in areas with high prevalence?
March and April, continuing in the summer months.
(Ricketts 1991)
What are the common vectors in the United States?
Brown dog tick, American dog tick, and Rocky Mountain wood tick.
(CDC 2024a)
The classic RMSF triad of fever, rash, and tick bite history during the first 3 days of illness appears in roughly what percent of clinical presentations?
3%
(Walker 1989)
Why do people wait to react until symptoms become severe?
Early symptoms are general and hard to identify.
(CDC 2024c)
How do you know you have RMSF?
Your healthcare provider will order blood tests to look for evidence of RMSF.
(CDC 2024a)
The characteristic rash caused by RMSF gave the disease what name in the U.S. prior to 1906?
“Black Measles”
(CDC 2024a)
What wildlife serves as a reservoir for this disease?
Rodents and small mammals.
(Ohio Department of Health 2022, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services 2024)
Which cell type does RMSF primarily attack, causing its high mortality rate?
R. rickettsii primarily attacks endothelial cells, causing vasculitis.
(McFee 2018)
What are the approximate mortality rates of RMSF with and without fast treatment?
4% with treatment, 35% without.
(Jay and Armstong 2021)
When would antibiotic treatment be most effective?
Within the first 5 days of the disease.
(Jay and Armstrong 2021)
What doctor is credited with discovering both the bacterial pathogen and the vector spreading the disease?
Dr. Howard Ricketts
(CDC 2024a)
What common vector for RMSF is pictured in this image?
Dermacentor variabilis, The American Dog Tick.
If left untreated, when does death occur in fatal RMSF cases?
Without treatment, deaths from RMSF usually occur within 7-9 days.
(CDC 2018)
Why is an antemortem diagnosis of RMSF rare?
Laboratory testing to diagnose RMSF can take weeks to run, but this disease requires quick treatment.
(CDC 2018, CDC 2024a)
What is the common treatment?
Treat with antibiotics early on, specifically doxycycline, can prevent death and severe illness.
(CDC 2024a)
Match the following maps to the three most common vectors of RMSF.
A. Dermacentor Variabilis (ADT)
B. Dermacentor Andersoni (RMWT)
C. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (BDT)