Rickettsia Akari
Rickettsia Akari
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Rickettsia akari
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Rickettsialpox, Vesicular rickettsiosis
CHARACTERISTICS: Pleomorphic gram-negative bacterium 0.6-1.0 µm, obligate intracellular
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Infection manifested by an initial skin lesion at the site of a mite bite, associated with lymphadenopathy; fever, sweats, headache, disseminated vesicular rash; may be confused with chickenpox; death is uncommon
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Occurred in urban areas of eastern USA (New York) and in USSR; incidence reduced by changes in management of garbage in tenement housing (only 6 cases in NY since 1971)
HOST RANGE: Humans, rats, mice, voles
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Transmitted to man from mice by bite of infected mite; commensal rats are reported to be sources of infection in USSR
INCUBATION PERIOD: Initial skin lesion appears 7 to 10 days after mite bite
COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly communicated from person-to-person
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Maintained in nature in mites by transovarial passage; reservoir of house mice and rats
ZOONOSIS: Yes – by bites of mites from infected animals
VECTORS: Mites – Leponyssoides sanguineus
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Chloramphenicol and tetracyclines are effective; tetracycline is the treatment of choice
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121° C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170° C for at least l hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Organism is unstable under ambient environmental conditions; sensitive to drying
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for signs of an ulcerating papule followed by chills and fever; diagnosis by serology or PCR
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy with tetracyclines
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 5 cases of rickettsial pox up to 1976 associated with exposure to bites of infected mites
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood and other tissues of infected mice or humans, and in mite vector
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Exposure to naturally or experimentally infected mites; accidental parenteral inoculation; inhalation of aerosols
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 3 practices, containment and facilities for propagation and animals studies
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gown with tight wrists and ties in back for work in biosafety cabinet
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Appropriate precautions should be taken to avoid exposure of personnel to infected mites that are maintained in the laboratory or that may be present on naturally infected house mice
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing; gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; incineration, steam sterilization
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: January, 2001
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright © Health Canada, 2001
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