Colorado tick fever pathophysiology

Colorado tick fever is an Orbivirus or Coltivirus that chronically infects Rocky Mountain wood ticks. The virus typically infects cells in bone marrow causing issues with the development of certain blood cells. Infection is transmitted by the bite of an infected Rocky Mountain wood tick.

• Genera of Colorado tick fever is wither an Orbivirus or Coltivirus.
• Four serotypes are responsible for human infections.^[1]

• Viral pathway involves targeting the cells in bone marrow or young child’s central nervous system.
• Inhibits the proper development of blood cells.
• A host defense mechanism, humoral immunity, is elicited by infection.^[1]

• Infection with Colorado tick fever occurs as a result of being bitten by an infected Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni).
• Colorado tick fever is transmitted to a tick during a blood meal involving a rodent reservoir such as a squirrels, chipmunks, and mice.
• Infection perpetuates as a tick continues to feed on another host.
• Viral transmission from human to human is rare, however may occur during blood transfusion.