Which illness is caused by a virus from the Coltivirus genus?

Which illness is caused by a virus from the Coltivirus genus?

• A. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• B. Tularemia
• C. Colorado Tick Fever
• D. Ehrlichiosis

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying a tick-borne illness caused by a virus that belongs to the Coltivirus genus. Colorado Tick Fever is caused by the Colorado tick fever virus, which is a member of the Coltivirus genus within the Reoviridae family. This makes it a viral infection transmitted by ticks (specifically the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni). Clinically, it often presents with a biphasic fever, headache, myalgias, and fatigue, and it is typically managed with supportive care because there’s no specific antiviral treatment. The other illnesses listed are bacterial rather than viral. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii; Tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis; Ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia species. Knowing the pathogen type and genus helps distinguish Colorado Tick Fever from these bacterial tick-borne diseases.

The key idea is identifying a tick-borne illness caused by a virus that belongs to the Coltivirus genus. Colorado Tick Fever is caused by the Colorado tick fever virus, which is a member of the Coltivirus genus within the Reoviridae family. This makes it a viral infection transmitted by ticks (specifically the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni). Clinically, it often presents with a biphasic fever, headache, myalgias, and fatigue, and it is typically managed with supportive care because there’s no specific antiviral treatment.

The other illnesses listed are bacterial rather than viral. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii; Tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis; Ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia species. Knowing the pathogen type and genus helps distinguish Colorado Tick Fever from these bacterial tick-borne diseases.