The only available reference to comprehensively discuss the common and unusual types of rickettsiosis in over twenty years, this book will offer the reader a full review on the bacteriology, transmission and pathophysiology of these conditions. Written from experts in the field from Europe, USA, Africa and Asia, specialists analyze specific pathogens at the epidemiological, microbiological, and molecular levels, and discuss the latest advancements in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of rickettsial diseases.

Rickettsial diseases caused by bacteria called rickettsias, are mainly associated and transmitted by arthropods. In the last twenty years, at least nine additional rickettsial species have been discovered as a cause of rickettsioses - proving there is urgent need to provide an updated, comprehensive source.

Rickettsial Diseases examines:

• developments in molecular taxonomic methods resulting in the reclassification of the rickettsiae
• the current classification of rickettsial disease, and the various hosts that carry them
• the recent re-emerging outbreaks within Africa and the Congo of typhus, a louse-borne epidemic
• R. copnorii strain seven - the first rickettisial anthropod host to be fully sequenced, revealing characteristics to the bacterial genome such as long palindromic repeating fragments irregularly distributed throughout the genome
• continuing research of other phylum joining the genome research project that is providing insight into the mechanisms of rickettssial pathogenicity, new molecular diagnostic targets, tools for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies, and new treatment measurescoxiella burnetii
• and Q fever's host factors of underlying disease, cell-mediated immunity, and it's uses as a failed warfare agenttesting strategies for rickettsial diseases, including advancements in field-based testing for areas without the use of P3 level reference laboratories