Rickettsia (Noun)
Meaning
Any of a group of very small rod-shaped bacteria that live in biting arthropods (as ticks and mites) and cause disease in vertebrate hosts; they cause typhus and other febrile diseases in human beings.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Rickettsia is a type of bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected ticks and mites.
- The doctor suspected that the patient had contracted a rickettsia infection after spending time outdoors in an area known to have infected ticks.
- Rickettsia is typically treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and even death.
- The scientist spent years studying the different species of rickettsia and their various hosts, including ticks, mites, and fleas.
- The symptoms of a rickettsia infection can be similar to those of other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose without laboratory tests.