What type of bacteria are intracellular parasites or arthropods known as?

Rickettsiae are a group of bacteria known for being intracellular parasites that typically require a host, often arthropods like ticks and fleas, to survive and replicate. These tiny bacteria invade the cells of their hosts and can cause various diseases, such as typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Their obligate intracellular lifestyle means they cannot reproduce or survive outside of a living host cell.

Chlamydia, while also an intracellular pathogen, is primarily associated with human infections and is not specifically categorized as being associated with arthropod vectors in the same way Rickettsiae are. Borrelia, another genus of bacteria, is primarily known for causing Lyme disease, and while they can be transmitted by ticks, they do not fit the category of obligate intracellular parasites. Staphylococci are a group of bacteria that are typically found on the skin and mucous membranes, and they do not share the same parasitic lifestyle as Rickettsiae. Thus, Rickettsiae are the most accurate choice for describing intracellular parasites that are associated with arthropods.