Amblyomma imitator Ticks as Vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, Mexico

EID Journal Home > Volume 16, Number 8–August 2010

Volume 16, Number 8–August 2010
Dispatch
Amblyomma imitator Ticks as Vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, Mexico
Karla A. Oliveira,1 Adriano Pinter,2 Aaron Medina-Sanchez,3 Venkata D. Boppana, Stephen K. Wikel, Tais B. Saito, Thomas Shelite, Lucas Blanton, Vsevolod Popov, Pete D. Teel,4 David H. Walker, Marcio A.M. Galvao,5 Claudio Mafra,1 and Donald H. Bouyer
Author affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Real-time PCR of Amblyomma imitator tick egg masses obtained in Nuevo Leon State, Mexico, identified a Rickettsia species. Sequence analyses of 17-kD common antigen and outer membrane protein A and B gene fragments showed to it to be R. rickettsii, which suggested a potential new vector for this bacterium.

Rickettsia rickettsii is a gram-negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium and the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). In Mexico, its transmission has been attributed to Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense ticks.

Amblyomma imitator has close affinity with A. cajennense and was formerly confused with this species. These ticks' distributional range extends from southern Texas, southward through Mexico (where they are widely sympatric with A. cajennense ticks) into Central America (1). In this study, we isolated and characterized R. rickettsii from A. imitator from Mexico by using molecular methods.

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Suggested Citation for this Article
Oliveira KA, Pinter A, Medina-Sanchez A, Boppana VD, Wikel SK, Saito TB, et al. Amblyomma imitator as vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, Mexico. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Aug [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/8/1282.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1608.100231

1Current affiliation: Federal University of Vicosa, Vicosa, Brazil.
2Current affiliation: Superintendency of Control of Endemic Diseases, São Paulo, Brazil.
3Current affiliation: Hospital and Clinic Oca, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
4Current affiliation: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
5Current affiliation: Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.