A resident of a New York City apartment building infested with house mice develops a localised crusted lesion followed by fever and a generalised papulovesicular rash. Serology shows antibodies to Rickettsia akari. The arthropod vector responsible for transmitting this infection is:

• A Xenopsylla cheopis
• B Liponyssoides sanguineus ✓
• C Pediculus humanus corporis
• D Leptotrombidium deliense

Explanation

Rickettsialpox is caused by R. akari and transmitted by the house-mouse mite Liponyssoides sanguineus (formerly Allodermanyssus). The triad of a mouse-infested dwelling, an eschar, and a vesicular rash distinguishes it from other rickettsioses. Xenopsylla cheopis transmits murine typhus, the body louse transmits epidemic typhus, and Leptotrombidium mites transmit scrub typhus, making these the classic vector-to-disease pairings tested together.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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