Tick-borne agents in rodents, China, 2004-2006.
A total of 705 rodents from 6 provinces and autonomous regions of mainland People's Republic of China were tested by PCRs for tick-borne agents (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, spotted fever group rickettsiae, and Francisella tularensis). Infection rates were 5.5%, 6.7%, 9.1% and 5.0%, respectively. Eighteen (2.6%) rodents of 10 species were positive for 2 or 3 agents. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed the presence and genotypes of detected agents. These findings demonstrate that these tick-borne agents cocirculate and that a variety of rodent species may be involved in their enzootic maintenance.
Zhan
Lin
L
Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Cao
Wu Chun
WC
Chu
Chen Yi
CY
Jiang
Bao Gui
BG
Zhang
Fang
F
Liu
Wei
W
Dumler
J Stephen
JS
Wu
Xiao Ming
XM
Zuo
Shu Qing
SQ
Zhang
Pan-He
PH
Huang
Hai Nan
HN
Zhao
Qiu Min
QM
Jia
Na
N
Yang
Hong
H
Richardus
Jan H
JH
Habbema
J Dik F
JD
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002681:China; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011634:Public Health; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors