~shortlisted disease~ --- Explanation

1) Murine Typhus

Causative agent : Rickettsia typhi present in the infected flea can be directly transmitted into the patient’s skin .

Reasons: In this case, the patient has been feeding stray cats and dogs; there is a high probability that the animals have been the vehicles to transmitted ticks on to the man. Hence, an infected tick could have bitten the man.

Sample(s) to be taken: Blood

Collection: Via venipuncture

Preliminary testing:Giemsa staining for light microscopy


2) Lyme disease

Causative agent : Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

Reasons: Since the patient had the habit of feeding stray animals, it might have provided an opportunity for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to transmit from the animals to him.

Sample(s) to be taken: Blood

Collection: Via venipuncture

Preliminary testing:Physical examination for symptoms and ELISA


3) Typhoid fever

Causative agent :Typhoid is a disease caused by Salmonella typhi.

Reasons: Since the patient living condition was so poorly sanitary. There is a high chance that the stray animals and cockroaches come into contact with the sewage and contaminated the food.As a result lead to faecal-oral route contamination of food.

Sample(s) to be taken: Blood or feces.

Collection: Via venipuncture and collection containers

Preliminary testing: Gram-stained smear or TSI agar