title: [Detection of Rickettsia andeanae in two regions of Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candidatus 'Rickettsia andeanae' is recently recognized specie, with no attributed pathogenic role so far. It has been reported in Amblyomma ticks from Peru, USA and Argentina, and recently in Chile, in one specimen of Amblyomma triste from a rural locality in Arica.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence of rickettsial agents in ticks from domestic dogs from two Chilean regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transversal descriptive study in Coquimbo and La Araucanía regions, consisted in households sampling in the cities of Coquimbo and Aingol and nearby rural localities, in spring-summer 2011-2012. One dog per house was examined and ticks were collected when present; after taxonomic identification, gltA and ompA genes were amplified and sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  462 dogs were examined, 255 had ticks (55%). In the cities just Rhipicephalus sanguineus was found; in rural localities also Amblyomma tigrinum. Obtained sequences in 12 specimens from A. tigrinum corresponded to Candidatus 'Rickettsia andeanae'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We documented the presence of R. andeanae in two distant Chilean regions, which is added to its recently finding in the Northern extreme of the country. This new rickettsial agent limits to Amblyomma ticks and rural areas, as it was reported in other American countries and corresponds with this tick habitat.
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, katia@med.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abarca
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acosta-Jamett
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez-Valdebenito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*; D014505:Urban Population