Rickettsia rickettsii

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of aerobic, Gram negative, rod and cocci shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Proteobacteria. This species is obligately intracellular, motile and transmitted to humans by tick hosts, Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni. R. rickettsii is a pathogen that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

**Synonyms:** - RICKETTSIA RICKETTSII