PhD graduate University of Arizona Phoenix, Arizona
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is endemic throughout the Americas and is one of the most commonly reported tickborne diseases in the United States. In Arizona, its association with the peridomestic brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, has led to a complex ecological and epidemiological presentation. This presentation will address the history of RMSF in Arizona, the current state of research in the field, and the integrated One Health approach to vector management necessary to reduce disease transmission in impacted communities.
