Molecular detection of Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup organisms in larvae of Neotrombicula autumnalis (Acari: Trombiculidae) captured in Spain.
Twenty unfed larvae of Neotrombicula autumnalis (Acari: Trombiculidae) collected on vegetation in the north of Spain were examined by polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.). rickettsiae, and the Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup. At least 10% of the larvae were found to contain granulocytic ehrlichiae. Because the larvae were unfed, they would necessarily have inherited the bacteria through a transovarian transmission pathway.
Fernández-Soto
P
P
Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.
Pérez-Sánchez
R
R
Encinas-Grandes
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000635:transmission; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013030:Spain; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000382:microbiology*