Murine Typhus – Flea borne

Flea-borne (murine) typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria Rickettsia typhi.  

Murine typhus, also known as flea-borne or typhus endemic typhus. 

Flea-borne typhus transmitted by infected fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis), usually on rats.

Epidemic typhus called louse-borne typhus, which is usually transmitted by infected lice.

Flea-borne typhus is transmitted to people through contact with infected fleas. Fleas get become infected when they bite infected animals, such as rats, cats, or opossums.

Epidemiology Triad

Agent – Murine typhus is a rickettsial disease. The the causative agent of murine typhus is rickettisiae typhi.

Host –  Animal reservoirs include cats, wild opossums, rats, mice. Rat fleas and probably cat fleas and opossum fleas transmit bacteria to humans through bites. Fleas are also natural reservoirs for rickettsial disease. Fleas shed bacteria in their faeces.

Environment – Murine typhus occurs during summer months.

Mode of Transmission

1. Infected Rat – rat flea – man

When an infected flea bites a person or animal, the bite breaks the skin, causing a wound. Fleas defecate when they feed. The poop (flea dirt) can rubbed into the bite wound and causing infection. People can also infected when breathe in infected flea dirt or rub it into eyes. This bacteria rickettisiae typhi is not spread from person to person.

Causes of Murine typhus

Murine typhus infection caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi, and is transmitted by the bite of fleas that infect rats.

Rat fleas are the most common vectors for Murine typhus disease  while cat fleas and mouse fleas are less common modes of transmission. These fleas are not affected by the infection of Rickettsia typhi .

Human get infected when flea bites on human skin, flea-fecal contamination of the on human skin.

Rats can develop the infection and spread infection to the other fleas. It multiplies the number of infected fleas that can then infect humans.

Incubation Period

The incubation period of murine typhus from 1 to 2 weeks.

Clinical Manifestation

Symptoms of murine typhus ( flea-borne typhus) begin within 2 weeks after contact with infected fleas or flea dirt. Symptoms are-

1. High fever (105 degree F), Chills

2. Headache,

3. Nausea

4.  Anorexia- Loss of appetite

5. Cough

6. Backache, Body aches and muscle pain

7. Vomiting,

8. Joint pain

9. Abdominal pain

10. Rash – Rashes begins on trunk and then peripherally

Complications of Murine Typhus 

1. Pneumonia

2. Central nervous system breakdown

3. Renal insufficiency

Laboratory Test

1. Blood culture

2. Indirect fluorescent assay antibody test (IFA) that are specific to Rickettsia typhi antigens.

Treatment of Murine Typhus

There is no vaccine available to prevent flea-borne typhus. Prevent and Reduce risk of getting flea-borne typhus infection by avoiding contact with fleas.

Treatment of murine typhus is antibiotic and drugs are Chloramphenicol or tetracycline .

Prevention and control

1. Control of fleas

2. Environment sanitation

3. Proper disposal of waste

4. Early diagnosis and treatment

Other Rickettsial disease is Tick typhus that causes Rocky mountain spotted fever.