Establishment of Amblyomma maculatum Ticks and Rickettsia parkeri the Northeastern United States

Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Oct;30(10):2208-2211. doi: 10.3201/eid3010.240821.

Abstract

We document a case of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis in a patient in Connecticut, USA, who became ill after a bite from a Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum). We used PCR to amplify R. parkeri DNA from the detached tick. The patient showed a 4-fold rise in IgG reactive with R. parkeri antigens.

Keywords: Amblyomma maculatum; Rickettsia parkeri; United States; arboviruses; bacteria; rickettsia; tickborne infections; ticks; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amblyomma* / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Connecticut
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rickettsia Infections* / diagnosis
  • Rickettsia Infections* / microbiology
  • Rickettsia Infections* / transmission
  • Rickettsia* / classification
  • Rickettsia* / genetics
  • Rickettsia* / isolation & purification
  • Tick Bites

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial

Supplementary concepts

  • Rickettsia parkeri