Biology Project Outline/Plan
DO NOT USE THIS LIKE A CHECK LIST, BE CREATIVE, GOOD STORYLINE, SIMPLY
INCLUDE THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW!!! http://www.pestnet.com/ticks/wood­tick/ Names:
Domain
Bacteria : Is a unicellular microorganism
Kingdom
Bacteria : Lacks a distinct nucleus and membrane­bound organelles
Phylum
Proteobacteria : Gram­negative with an outer membrane mainly composed of lipopolysaccharides Class Alpha Protobacteria : a bacterium that is a dangerous pathogen
Order
Rickettsiales : can only survive as an endosymbiotic relationship other cells
Family
Rickettsiaceae : inhabits an arthropod tissue and causes a terrible disease when transmitted to vertebrates
Genus
Rickettsia : non­motile, gram negative, non­spore forming, varies in size and shape of bacteria Species Rickettsi : cause of RMSF Common: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Scientific: Rickettsia rickettsii Mode of Transmission:
Ticks get it from infected animals; animals get it from infected food. Male ticks transfer it to females during the mating process
The bite of infected ticks, usually female adults.
From infected tick larvae to nymphs to adults via transstadial transmission
From infected female ticks to their eggs via transovarial transmission
Or from a cut exposed to the infected tick’s feces
*There is no human­to­human transmission Parts of it shown and labeled: http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img­get/I00005Ii1Bu4gzWw/s/600/600/423303.jpg http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=%5Cproteobacteria%20structure&qs=n&form=QBIR& pq=proteobacteria%20structure&sc=0­0&sp=­1&sk=#view=detail&id=A7E2EDAD53CCF2F1D E6A2BC66DAAA09860E26074&selectedIndex=6 Symptoms Caused by it:
­ The rashes start as small,red,flat spots around the ankles and wrists, and then moves to the palms, soles, and trunk. As it continues to spread it becomes bumped.(10% who get it never get a rash)
­ Common Symptoms
­ Fever, severe headache, muscle aches, and vomiting.
­ Uncommon Symptoms/

­

Abdominal pain, swollen lymph nodes, cough, stiff neck, confusion, and coma.

Is it good/bad/neutral?:
It’s bad if left untreated, and the mortality is higher for people over the age of 40. Death is usually because of shock or kidney failure.

Duration of activity/lifespan:
­ Starts off with unaffected tick sucking blood from an infected animal (draw it dead), then infected ticks bite hosts transferring it/ lay eggs that are infected with it. And the cycle continues on.
­ If left untreated it can kill its host.
­ Using Doxycycline is the first line treatment for adults & children; If patient is treated within the first 5 days of the disease, the fever will subside within 24­72 hours, and will continue to be treated for at least 3 days after the fever ended and until there is evidence of clinical improvement, standard duration of treatment is 7­14 days.
­ If patient is pregnant/allergic to doxycycline there are other antibiotics like chloramphenicol, but the risk of death is increased. ,

● Wear long pants and sleeves.
● Use insect repellents.
● Do your best to tick­proof your yard.
Check yourself and your pets for ticks. ● Remove a tick with tweezers
,
how does it reproduce? (Be very specific):
­

When the rickettsiosis infects a tick the rickettsiosis replaces the hosts’ DNA with its own and begins to reproduce more of itself through a lysogenic cycle similar to that of viruses ­

­

Obligate intracellular parasite ­ can’t reproduce outside their host cell, meaning