Rickettsia australis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rickettsia australis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Pseudomonadati |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
| Subclass: | "Rickettsidae" |
| Order: | Rickettsiales |
| Family: | Rickettsiaceae |
| Genus: | Rickettsia |
| Species group: | Spotted fever group |
| Species: | R. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rickettsia australis Philip, 1950 | |
Rickettsia australis is a bacterium that causes a medical condition called Queensland tick typhus.[1][2] The probable vectors are the tick species, Ixodes holocyclus and Ixodes tasmani. Small marsupials are suspected reservoirs of this bacterium.[3]
In 1946 this bacterium was discovered and isolated as a new tick-borne illness that began to present in Australian soldiers stationed in northern Queensland. This illness was designated as the North Queensland tick typhus. From here, researchers began to continue this work. After many experiments were completed, such as cross-protection and serological assays in guinea pigs, it was concluded that the isolate previously seen in 1946 was a new addition to the spotted fever group. Although it wasn't until 1950 when the organism was officially discovered and named Rickettsia australis by a scientist with the surname Philip.[4]
Role in human disease
Rickettsia australis causes Queensland tick typhus (QTT).[4] This disease was first identified in 1946, although the specific bacterium was not identified until 1950. Rickettsia australis produces a spectrum of symptoms ranging from headaches and fever but can ultimately lead to sepsis and vital organ failure.[5]