NCIt definition : A species of aerobic, Gram negative, rod and cocci shaped bacteria assigned to the
phylum Proteobacteria. This species is obligately intracellular, motile and transmitted
to humans by the human body louse, Pediculus humanus corporis. R. prowazekii is a
pathogen that causes epidemic typhus and Brill Zinsser disease.;
Alternative definition : CDISC: Any bacterial organism that can be assigned to the species Rickettsia prowazekii.;