Introduction of the exotic tick Amblyomma hebraeum into Florida on a human host.
A resident of Florida returned from a short visit to southern Africa to find a male Amblyomma hebraeum tick attached to the skin behind her knee. Amblyomma hebraeum is a major vector of 2 pathogens that cause important diseases in southern Africa, heartwater of ruminants and African tick-bite fever of humans. The tick was tested by polymerase chain reaction assay for evidence of infection with Cowdria ruminantium and Rickettsia africae (the causative agents of heart-water and African tick-bite fever, respectively) and was found to be negative for both agents. This is the second record of the exotic tick, A. hebraeum, being introduced into the United States on a human host.
Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0880, USA. burridgem@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
M J
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Burridge
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Simmons
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Simbi
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Mahan
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Fournier
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D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D016995:Ehrlichia ruminantium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology; D014195:Travel
D017931:DNA Primers