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Zoonoses can be defined as diseases of animals that are transmitted to humans. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one such zoonotic infection affecting dogs and cats and is transmitted to humans.
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This infection is caused due to a specific group of bacteria known as Rickettsia. Also known as Tick Typhus, Tobia Fever and Sao Paulo Fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most severe rickettsial infection occurring in many areas of United States, Canada, Central America, Mexico and certain parts of South America.
Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative organism of this disease, is a small gram-negative intracellular bacterial parasite that belongs to the family of Rickettsiaceae. The organism is primarily transmitted due to a tick bite. Most important carrier vectors and reservoir hosts of this bacterium include the American dog tick, the Rocky Mountain spotted fever wood tick.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a fatal disease whose initial symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, severe muscle pain and loss of appetite. This disease is hard to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms. Any delay in treatment can result in maculopapular rash, petechial rash, abdominal pain, swollen lymph nodes and edema. Some dogs also have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, hemorrhages in the retina of the eye, blood in the stool and nose bleeds. Dogs also develop symptoms like anemia, thrombocytopenia and ulcerations on the mucous membranes. Swelling of scrotal sacs, hemorrhage and pain in the testicles is observed in male dogs. Neurological abnormalities are also associated with this disease. These include vestibular deficits, nystagmus, tilted head, circling and incoordination.
Long term health problems of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include partial paralysis of the lower extremities, hearing loss, loss of muscle coordination, abnormal bowel or bladder control and gangrene requiring amputation of fingers or legs.
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