Infection of the Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma Maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae), with Rickettsia Parkeri: First Report from the State of Delaware

Abstract

The molecular detection of Rickettsia parkeri in a Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, collected in Delaware represents the first evidence of the human pathogen R. parkeri associated with A. maculatum in the state. A total of five adult (2 male and 3 female) Gulf Coast ticks were collected from tick drags conducted during a two-day sampling event (21 22 May 2012) at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, near Smyrna, Delaware. All specimens were tested for the presence of Rickettsia with a genus-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay; one of the female specimens tested positive. This specimen was then assessed for the presence of Rickettsia parkeri and Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae by two species-specific qPCR assays. The presence of R. parkeri DNA was detected, whereas Candidatus R. andeanae DNA was not.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 31, 2013
Accession Number
ADA580052

Entities

People

  • Allen L Richards
  • David A. Florn
  • Ju Jiang
  • Richard G. Robbins

Organizations

  • Naval Medical Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Biomedical Research
  • Delaware
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Geographic Distribution
  • Governments
  • Infection
  • New England
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Ticks
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Wildlife
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Allergy and Immunology.
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology