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Spotted fever group Rickettsia in ticks from southeastern Spain natural parks

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Abstract

During an 8-years study, we collected from vegetation or domestic and wild mammals 1246 ticks (624 males, 511 females and 111 nymphs) belonging to 13 species in Jaen province (Andalusia) and we analyzed these ticks by PCR and sequencing for the presence of rickettsiae. Specific rickettsiae DNA was detected in 243 (19.5%) of the ticks tested. Sequence analysis of amplicons of gltA, ompA and ompB genes revealed that Ixodes ricinus were infected with R. monacensis, including strain IRS3, and R. helvetica (prevalences of 27.0% and 2.7%, respectively), while in I. ventalloi we found only this last species (12.5%). Moreover, Dermacentor marginatus presents R. slovaca (24.7%) and R. raoultii (59.9%). In Rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks (Rh. sanguineus, Rh. turanicus and Rh. pusillus) only R. massiliae (15.2%) was found. Haemaphysalis punctata and Ha. sulcata were infected with a Rickettsia sp. near R. hoogstraalii (prevalence of 3.1% and 16.1%, respectively). In addition, Ha. punctata appeared infected with R. monacensis—like Rickettsia (1.0%) and R. raoultii (9.3%). None of I. hexagonus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Hyalomma sp., Ha. hispanica or Rh. bursa studied ticks contained rickettsiae.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Javier Millán for his suggestions and comments on preparing the manuscript. We are grateful to Antonio Hidalgo, Damián J. Galán, Samer Alasaad, Pilar Simón and José Luis Rodríguez for their help collecting ticks. Financial support was provided by the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria program, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain (grant 04–1521).

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  1. Dpto. Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaen, Spain

    Francisco J. Márquez

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Márquez, F.J. Spotted fever group Rickettsia in ticks from southeastern Spain natural parks. Exp Appl Acarol 45, 185–194 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-008-9181-7

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