Detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA in Amblyomma americanum ticks in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum ticks, which are most abundant in the southern United States. Because serologic evidence suggests that residents of Connecticut are exposed to E. chaffeensis, A. americanum ticks were collected in Connecticut and Rhode Island for PCR analysis to detect E. chaffeensis DNA. Eight of 106 (7.6%) A. americanum ticks from Connecticut and 6 of 52 (11.5%) from Rhode Island contained E. chaffeensis DNA. Thus, E. chaffeensis is present in ticks in southern New England and transmission of E. chaffeensis may occur there.
Ijdo
J W
JW
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8031, USA.
Wu
C
C
Magnarelli
L A
LA
Stafford
K C
KC
Anderson
J F
JF
Fikrig
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003237:Connecticut; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012237:Rhode Island; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial