microbiology chapter 11 test bank Related

Review microbiology chapter 11 test bank related questions and content

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by:

  • A. Borrelia burgdorferi
  • B. Rickettsia rickettsii
  • C. Rickettsia prowazekii
  • D. Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Rickettsia rickettsii. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a bacterium transmitted by ticks. This pathogen primarily affects the endothelial cells of blood vessels, leading to vasculitis. Borrelia burgdorferi (choice A) causes Lyme disease, not Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Rickettsia prowazekii (choice C) causes epidemic typhus, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (choice D) causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis, both of which are distinct from Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Therefore, the correct choice is B based on the specific etiology of the disease.