Continous alert for rickettsiosis in Sicily: molecular characterization of Rickettsia sp. obtained from ticks and human beings (1986-2001).
Several strains of Rickettsia sp. were isolated from patients in western Sicily with MSF (Mediterranean Spotted Fever) as well as ticks. Strains isolated were examined by PCR and identified as belonging to R. conorii sp. Importantly a strain of Israeli Spotted Fever Rickettsiae, obtained from a tick, was also identified. Our data prove that strains other than the classical R. conorii also circulate in Sicily.
Giammanco
Giovanni Maurizio
GM
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia, Università di Palermo, Italy.
Di Rosa
Salvatore
S
Ammatuna
Pietro
P
Mansueto
Pasquale
P
Micalizzi
Anna
A
Vitale
Giustina
G
D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012802:Sicily; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial