Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma americanum ticks, Tennessee and Georgia, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Sep;15(9):1471-3. doi: 10.3201/eid1509.090330.

Abstract

To determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from Tennessee and Georgia, USA. Using PCR and sequence analysis, we identified R. parkeri in 2 Amblyomma americanum ticks. This rickettsiosis may be underdiagnosed in the eastern United States.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / microbiology*
  • Georgia
  • Humans
  • Ixodidae / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Rickettsia Infections / microbiology
  • Rickettsia* / classification
  • Rickettsia* / genetics
  • Rickettsia* / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Species Specificity
  • Tennessee