Rocky Mountain spotted fever historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ilan Dock, B.S.
Overview
Rocky Mountain spotted fever was first recognized in 1896 in the Snake River Valley of Idaho and was originally called black measles. For a great part of American history, the rash was dreaded as a frequently fatal disease in this endemic region. By the early 1900s, the recognized geographic distribution of this disease grew to encompass parts of the United States as far north as Washington and Montana and as far south as California, Arizona, and New Mexico. [1] After much anticipation and failure to cure the disease, there was finally a breakthrough in 1922. In Western Montana (1922) an Assistant Surgeon, R.R. Spencer, inoculated himself with a mixture of mush ticks and carboxylic acids to which later began the development of a vaccine for the disease. [2]
History
Early Recognition of the Disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever was first recognized in 1896 in the Snake River Valley of Idaho and was originally called black measles.
- It was a dreaded and frequently fatal disease that affected hundreds of people in this area.
- By the early 1900s, the recognized geographic distribution of this disease grew to encompass parts of the United States as far north as Washington and Montana and as far south as California, Arizona, and New Mexico. [3] [2]
Identification of Rickettsia rickettsii
- Howard T. Ricketts was the first to establish the identity of the infectious organism that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- He and others characterized the basic epidemiological features of the disease, including the role of tick vectors.
- Their studies found that Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by a tick borne, gram-negative coccobacillus that was named Rickettsia rickettsii,
- This species is maintained in nature by a complex cycle involving ticks and mammals; humans are considered to be accidental hosts and are not involved in the natural transmission cycle of this pathogen.
- Dr. Ricketts died of typhus (another rickettsial disease) in Mexico in 1910, shortly after completing his studies on Rocky Mountain spotted fever.[2]</nowiki> [3]
Developing a Vaccine
- Research reawakened in 1922 in western Montana — in the Bitter Root Valley; Hamilton, Montana — after the governor's daughter and son-in-law died of the fever.
- Past assistant surgeon R.R. Spencer of the hygienic laboratory of the US Public Health Service was ordered to the region and led a research team at an abandoned local schoolhouse.
- In 1924, Spencer inoculated himself with a large dose of ground wood ticks and weak carbolic acid. The vaccine was effective.
- Three of the researchers involved in the project, Gettinger, Cowan and Kerlee, would all die from the fever during their research efforts.
- Much of the early research was conducted at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, which is the source of the name of the condition. [1] [3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Rocky Mountain Laboratories Official Site. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dir/rml/ Accessed June 24, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Spencer R.R., Parker R.R. Studies on Rocky Mountain spotted fever. U.S. G.P.O. Washington, 1930. 16141346. Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin. V-154. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6C9DAAAAYAAJ}}
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Overview. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rmsf/overview.htm Accessed June 24, 2009