The correct spelling of the bacterial species formerly known as Rochalimaea quintana is Rochalimaea (Ro-cha-LE-me-a) quintana (quin-TA-na). The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /roʊkəˈlɪmiə/ /kwɪnˈtænə/. The name of the bacteria is derived from two sources: Rochalimaea is named after the French microbiologist, Dr. Henri Rochalimaeu, while quintana is derived from the Latin word for "fifth" because the organism was first isolated from the fifth patient of a particular research study.
Rochalimaea quintana is a bacterium belonging to the Bartonellaceae family, specifically within the genus Rochalimaea. It is a small, Gram-negative, facultative intracellular pathogen that causes a disease known as trench fever.
Trench fever, also called quintan fever, is a febrile illness characterized by recurring episodes of high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pain (myalgias and arthralgias), and fatigue. The disease was first identified during World War I among soldiers living in unsanitary and crowded conditions in trenches, which is how it acquired its name.
Rochalimaea quintana is primarily transmitted to humans via the body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis) vector. The bacterium resides in the midgut of infected lice and can be transmitted to humans through scratching or crushing of the lice, allowing the bacterium to enter the bloodstream.
Once inside the human body, Rochalimaea quintana can infect various tissues, including the vascular endothelial cells, resulting in systemic infection. The bacterium can survive and multiply within human endothelial cells, leading to the characteristic symptoms of trench fever.
To diagnose infections caused by Rochalimaea quintana, laboratory techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological tests are commonly employed. Treatment typically involves the use of antibiotics such as doxycycline, erythromycin, or azithromycin.
In summary, Rochalimaea quintana is a bacterium that causes trench fever, a febrile illness characterized by recurring episodes of high fever and other symptoms. It is transmitted to humans via the body louse vector and survives within human endothelial cells, leading to systemic infection
The word "Rochalimaea quintana" is a scientific name given to a bacterium that causes a disease called trench fever. The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:
1. Rochalimaea: The genus name "Rochalimaea" is derived from the last name of Albert Rochalimae, a French physician and microbiologist who played a crucial role in studying and discovering this bacterium. He and his team isolated the bacterium from patients suffering from trench fever during World War I.
2. Quintana: The species name "quintana" is derived from the Latin word "quintus", meaning fifth.