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Medical Definition of Rochalimaea
1. Former name for a genus of bacteria (family Rickettsiaceae) closely resembling Rickettsia in staining properties, morphology, and mode of transmission between hosts. They usually reside in the extracellular environment in the arthropod host and can be cultivated in cell-free media. Related bacterium causes bacillary angiomatosis in immunocompromised humans, especially those with AIDS. The type species was Rochalimaea quintana. This genus has been recently reclassified bartonella. Origin: da Rocha-Lima, Brazilian microbiologist (05 Mar 2000)