title: Using PCR/RFLP to detect spotted fever group rickettsia in ticks and rodents collected in Ninghua, Fujian province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the existence of natural foci of Spotted Fever in Ninghua, Fujian province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using DNA polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR/RFLP) to detect spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) in ticks and rodents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that H. wellingtoni, H. yeni, and Dermacentor auratus were infected with Rickettsia sibirica; the DNA fragments were cloned, the PCR products from isolated strain NH-97 were antigenically and genotypically identical to Rickettsia sibirica. Rattus flavipectus were found infected with R. conorii. One of the sequeuce analysis showed that the DNA sequence was different from other SFGR and close to R. japanic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Natural foci of R. sibirica, R. sibrica, R. japanic and R.conorii are found in Ninghua, Fujian province of China.
authors.affiliation: Ninghua County Anti-Epidemic Station, Fujian 365400, China.
authors.forename: Zhenguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Dezeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D002681:China; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D051381:Rats; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*