Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Arizona: documentation of heavy environmental infestations of Rhipicephalus sanguineus at an endemic site.
A recent epidemiologic investigation identified 16 cases and 2 deaths from Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in two eastern Arizona communities. Prevalence studies were conducted by collecting free-living ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from the home sites of RMSF patients and from other home sites within the community. Dry ice traps and flagging confirmed heavy infestations at many of the home sites. Only Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were identified and all developmental stages were detected. It is evident that under certain circumstances, this species does transmit Rickettsia rickettsii to humans and deserves reconsideration as a vector in other geographic areas.
Nicholson
William L
WL
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop G-13, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. wan6@cdc.gov
Paddock
Christopher D
CD
Demma
Linda
L
Traeger
Marc
M
Johnson
Brian
B
Dickson
Jeffrey
J
McQuiston
Jennifer
J
Swerdlow
David
D
D000818:Animals; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology*