Detection of Rickettsiae in Arthropod Vectors by DNA Amplification Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA was used to detect Rickettsia rickettsii and R. typhi in experimentally infected adult Dermacentor variabilis ticks and Xenopsylla cheopis fleas, respectively. A primer pair derived from the 17-kDa-antigen gene sequence of typhus and spotted fever group rickettsiae was used to amplify a 434-base (bp) fragment of the genome of the rickettsiae. The specific PCR-amplified product in extracts of individual infected fleas or ticks was detected readily on ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. The amplified 434-bp sequence was not detected in uninfected controls. The PCR procedure provides a rapid, sensitive, and highly specific assay for detection of rickettsial infection in arthropod vectors. Keywords: Antigen detection, Indirect immunofluorescence, Rickettsia rickettsii, oligonucleotide primers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA227293

Entities

People

  • Abdu F. Azad
  • Gregory A. Dasch
  • Laura Webb
  • Mitchell Carl

Organizations

  • Naval Medical Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bacteria
  • Cells
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Classification
  • Detection
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Identification
  • Infection
  • Microbiology
  • New York
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prokaryotes
  • Rodents
  • Security
  • Thermal Cyclers
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Neurodegenerative Parkinson's Disease and Rickettsial Disease handbook, including the data level of dopamine, BC, neurons, and PD.
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).