This document discusses rickettsial and protozoan diseases of humans. It describes rickettsial diseases as infections caused by Rickettsia bacteria transmitted by ticks, mites, and fleas. The major rickettsial diseases are Rocky Mountain spotted fever, epidemic typhus, and murine typhus. Protozoan diseases are caused by protozoa parasites and discussed diseases include malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica spread through contaminated water, and toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma parasites. Treatments for these diseases include antibiotics such as doxycycline and antiparasitic drugs.

1. RICKETTSIAL AND
PROTOZOAN DISEASES
OF HUMAN
JAYA PRAKASH.S

2. RICKETTSIAL DISEASES
INTRODUCTION
• Rickettsial diseases are a group of infections caused
by Gram negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia
species.
• Rickettsia species are transmitted by the bite of
infected ticks or mites or fleas.
• Species which cause the rickettsial dieases in the
humans are,
 Rickettsia rickettsii
 Rickettsia prowazakii
 Rickettsia typhi

3. TYPES
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever(R. rickettsii)
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial
disease spread through the bite on an infected tick.
It typically begins with a fever and headache, which is
followed a few days later with the development of a rash.
• Epidemic typhus(R. prowazekii)
Epidemic typhus is spread to people through contact
with infected body lice.
It begins with body aches and after two weeks it will
cause severe cough and vomiting.
• Murine typhus(R.thphi)
Murine typhus is spread to people through contact with
infected fleas.
Its symptoms are similar to Epidemic Typhus.

4. Diagnosis
• Biopsy of rashes
• Immunoflourescence assay
• Weil-Felix test
• PCR
Treatments
• Chemotherapy is used for the treatment of Rickettsial
diseases. Therapeutic agents are,
• Tetracyclins
• Chloramphenical
• Ciproflaxacin
• Doxycycline

5. PROTOZOAN DISEASES
• Protozoan diseases are parasitic diseases caused by
organisms formerly classified in the Kingdom Protozoa.
• Protozoan infections in animals may be caused by
organisms in the sub-class Coccidia and species in the
genus Besnoitia.
1.MALARIA
• Malaria is caused by the species plasmodium.
• It is transmitted by the bite of female anopheles
mosquito.
• In humans this parasite attack the liver cells and RBC.

6. • Species cause the disease are
 Plasmodium vivax
 Plasmodium malariae
 Plasmodium falciporum
2.AMOEBIASIS
• Amoebiasis is a disease caused by the
parasite Entamoeba histolytica. In humans it affect in
the gastro-intestinal tract.
• It spreads through intake of the contaminated water.
• Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea or
bloody diarrhea.
• Drugs used for the treatment are, Metronidazole
and Tinidazole.

7. 3. LEISHMANIASIS
• This disease is spread by the bites of sand flies that
are infected with Leishmania parasite.
• This disease affects the skin, spleen, liver and other
organs.
• Symptoms are include weight loss, fever, liver
enlargement, spleen enlargement and abnormal
blood counts.
• Liposomal amphotericin B used for the treatment.
4. TOXOPLASMOSIS
• Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma species.
• Toxoplasmosis signs and symptoms are flu-like in
nature and include body aches, headache, fatigue,
fever, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat.

8. • Drugs used for the treatment,
Pyrimethamine
Sulfadiazine
Spiramycin
5. BABESIOSIS
• Babesiosis is caused by the Babesia parasite, which is
carried by ticks.
• Common symptoms of babesiosis include fatigue,
nausea, body aches, headache, loss of appetite,
chills, fever and sweats.
• Drugs used for treatment
Clindamycin
Quinine

9. 6. TRYPANOSOMIASIS
• It is also known as African Sleeping sickness.
• A disease caused by infection with the parasite
Trypanosoma brucei.
• These organisms are carried by the tsetse fly and
transmitted to humans via tsetse fly bites.
• Symptoms of African sleeping sickness can include
insomnia, progressive confusion, irritability,
personality changes, weight loss, loss of
concentration, slurred speech and difficulty talking
and walking.
• Pentamidine, Suramin, Melarsoprol and flornithine
are used for the treatment.