Which organism is responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Rickettsia rickettsii is the organism responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This bacterium is a type of obligate intracellular pathogen that is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, specifically the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Once inside the host, Rickettsia rickettsii invades the cells of the blood vessels, leading to inflammation and damage of the endothelial cell lining. This results in the characteristic symptoms of the disease, such as fever, rash, and other systemic effects.

Understanding the specific diseases caused by different organisms is crucial in microbiology, especially in fields like mortuary science where knowledge of infectious diseases and their causative agents can impact public health decisions and practices. This distinction is essential for recognizing the risk factors associated with these infections and how they can affect individuals and communities.