Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Reservoir

• • American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

  • Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

  • Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor anderson) 

Portal of Exit

• Tick bite (blood)

Mode of Transmission (both indirect and direct)

• Exposure to infected tick bite Direct: Bite from an infected tick 

• Contamination of skin by infected tick blood or feces. Indirect: Contact with an infected tick's blood or feces

Portal of Entry

• Tick bite

  • Hematogenous

  • Cutaneous

Susceptible Host

• People and animals located in areas where American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor anderson).

• Locations including the United States of America and Mexico

• Canines

Prevention

• Preventing tick bites on humans and animals 

• Be aware that of an activity increase of the American dog tick's (Dermacentor variabilis), Brown dog tick's (Rhipicephalus sanguineus),  and the Rocky Mountain wood tick's (Dermacentor anderson)  during the months of April to September.

• Tick preventatives 

• Avoid areas where the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor anderson) reside.

Edited by Emily Capece

Sources: 

• CDC. (2024, May 20). Clinical Signs and Symptoms. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/hcp/signs-symptoms/index.html

• CDC. (2024). About Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/about/index.html#cdc_disease_basics_causes_risk_spread-how-it-spreads

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. (n.d.). Dph.illinois.gov. https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/tickborne-illnesses/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever.html#:~:text=Rocky%20Mountain%20spotted%20fever%20is%20spread%20by%20the%20bite%20of

By: Sydney Callender