SCRUB

SCRUB TYPUS
Causative Agent
The causative organism of scrub typhus is Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. This is a ploemorphic, gram-negative, bacillus shaped, intracellular parasite. This is a special type of parasite called a protelean parasite because its larvae are parasitic, but the adults are predatory. R. tsutsugamushi does not live very long outside of a hosts cell. However, it can be furthered studied in a laboratory by cultivating it into tissues such as embryonated chicken eggs or vertebrate cell cultures. The usual cycle of the parasite is from an arthropod to a wild animal. Humans can become an accidental host by standing in the way and getting bitten. Scrub typhus is also called tropical typhus because it is mostly found in hot, humid areas that are prone to flooding.

Pathogenicity and Disease Symptoms
The parasite incubates in the new hosts endothelial cells for about 10-12 days. Soon after, the victim can experience headaches, fever, anorexia and general apathy. The s...