Rocky Mountain spotted fever is primarily transmitted by which organism?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is primarily transmitted by dog ticks, specifically the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the American dog tick. These ticks act as vectors for Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of the disease. Transmission occurs when an infected tick bites a human, allowing the pathogen to enter the bloodstream.

Understanding the biology and behavior of these ticks helps to clarify how the disease spreads. Unlike mosquitoes, which are carriers of other diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus, the lifecycle and feeding habits of dog ticks are suited for transmitting Rickettsia rickettsii. Ticks latch onto their hosts for a longer duration compared to the brief feeding times of mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of pathogen transmission.

Fleas and dust mites do not play a role in the transmission of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; fleas are more often associated with diseases such as plague or typhus, while dust mites are linked to allergies and asthma, not vector-borne diseases. Knowing these distinctions reinforces the critical role that dog ticks play in this specific illness's transmission.