Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma americanum ticks, Tennessee and Georgia, USA.
To determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from Tennessee and Georgia, USA. Using PCR and sequence analysis, we identified R. parkeri in 2 Amblyomma americanum ticks. This rickettsiosis may be underdiagnosed in the eastern United States.
Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Sara B
SB
Cohen
Michael J
MJ
Yabsley
Laurel E
LE
Garrison
James D
JD
Freye
Brett G
BG
Dunlap
John R
JR
Dunn
Daniel G
DG
Mead
Timothy F
TF
Jones
Abelardo C
AC
Moncayo
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013714:Tennessee