Rickettsial infection of the pulmonary microcirculation: The basis for interstitial pneumonitis in Rocky Mountain spotted fever

David H. Walker, Cynthia G. Crawford, Barbara G. Cain

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pulmonary tissue from 10 patients with fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever was examined by brightfield microscopy for histopathologic lesions and by immunofluorescence for Rickettsia rickettsii. The distribution of rickettsiae and the vasculitis of the pulmonary microcirculation coincided. The lungs demonstrated the consequent interstitial pneumonia-alveolar septal congestion and interstitial edema; alveolar edema, fibrin, macrophages, and hemorrhage; and interlobular septal edema. The effects of the rickettsial damage to the pulmonary microcirculation are an important component of the pathophysiology of severe Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The distribution of rickettsial organisms within the lung indicates that person to person aerosol transmission is extremely unlikely.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)263-272
Number of pages10
JournalHuman Pathology
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1980
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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