Typhus
Not to be confused with typhoid fever, a distinct disease caused by a different genera of bacteria
Types of Typhus
Multiple diseases include the word "typhus" in their description. Types include:
Condition | Bacteria | Reservoir/vector | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Epidemic "Louse-borne" typhus | Rickettsia prowazekii | Human Body louse | When the term "typhus" is used without clarification, this is usually the condition described. Historical references to "typhus" are now generally considered to be this condition. |
Murine typhus or "endemic typhus" | Rickettsia typhi | Fleas on rats | |
Scrub typhus | Orientia tsutsugamushi | Harvest mites on humans or rodents | Unlike the two conditions above, though it has the word "typhus" in the name, it is currently usually not classified in the typhus group, but in the closely related spotted fever group. |
Queensland tick typhus | Rickettsia australis | Ticks |