rickettsia
noun
rick·ett·sia
| \ ri-ˈket-sē-ə
\
\
plural rickettsias
or rickettsiae\ ri-ˈket-sē-ˌē
, -ˌī \
also rickettsia
, -ˌī \
also rickettsia
Definition of rickettsia
: any of a various gram-negative, parasitic bacteria (order Rickettsiales and especially genus Rickettsia) that are transmitted by biting arthropods (such as lice or ticks) and cause a number of serious diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus)
Note: Rickettsia are often pleomorphic, and may be coccoid, rod-shaped, or irregularly-shaped.
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Other Words from rickettsia
rickettsial
\ ri-ˈket-sē-əl
\
adjective
\
adjective
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More Definitions for rickettsia
rickettsia
noun
rick·ett·sia
| \ ri-ˈket-sē-ə
\
\
Medical Definition of rickettsia
1
capitalized
: a genus of rod-shaped, coccoid, or diplococcus-shaped often pleomorphic bacteria (family Rickettsiaceae) that are transmitted by biting arthropods (as lice or ticks) and cause a number of serious diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus)
2
plural rickettsiae\ -ˌē \
also rickettsias
or rickettsia
: any bacterium of the genus Rickettsia, the family Rickettsiaceae, or the order Rickettsiales
\
also rickettsias
or rickettsia
: any bacterium of the genus Rickettsia, the family Rickettsiaceae, or the order Rickettsiales