Keywords: Rocky Mountain spotted fever PHIL 1962 lores.jpg Child's right hand and wrist displaying the characteristic spotted rash of Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most severe and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States The disease is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii a species of bacteria that is spread to humans by ixodid hard ticks Content Providers s CDC Copyright Restrictions None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions As a matter of courtesy we request that the content provider be credited and notified in any public or private usage of this image Public Health Image Library PHIL Centers for disease control and prevention CDC http //phil cdc gov/PHIL_Images/05022002/00005/PHIL_1962_lores jpg PD-USGov Rickettsioses Diseases and disorders of the skin |