title: Prevalence of Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae-Like Bacteria in Ixodid Ticks at 13 Sites on the Chinese-Russian Border.
abstract: To investigate the likely source population and candidate vectors of Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae, the prevalence of this bacteria was quantified in specimens of four tick species that mainly parasitize humans collected from 13 sites along the Chinese-Russian border. The presence of the bacteria was determined by detecting its specific citrate synthase (gltA) partial gene and outer membrane protein A (ompA) partial gene. Only Ixodes persulcatus Schulze was found to be naturally infected with C. R. tarasevichiae, which had an overall prevalence of 1.53% in both sexes. C. R. tarasevichiae is an emerging, tick-borne human pathogen and this finding may partially explain recent human cases of infection by this organism in China. Public health authorities should be aware of the potential risk posed by the transmission of this bacterium to humans by ticks.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Department of Vector Biology and Control, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dong-dajie St., Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China. sunyi73@gmail.com.
authors: Sun
authors: S
authors: Yi
authors: Qingdao Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 175 Shandong Rd., Shibei District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Hongrong
authors: State Key Laboratory for Pathogens and Biosecurity, Department of Epidemiology, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dong-dajie St., Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China.
authors: Cao
authors: C
authors: Wuchun
authors: Center for Health Inspection, Heilongjiang Bureau of Entry & Exit Inspection and Quarantine, 9 Ganshui Rd., Kaifa District, Harbin 150001, China.
authors: Fu
authors: F
authors: Weiming
authors: Center for Health Inspection, Heilongjiang Bureau of Entry & Exit Inspection and Quarantine, 9 Ganshui Rd., Kaifa District, Harbin 150001, China.
authors: Ju
authors: J
authors: Wendong
authors: Wenchou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 41 Xincheng Rd., Lucheng District, Wenchou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Wang
authors: W
authors: Xin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001179:Arthropod Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012426:Russia
keywords: Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae; Chinese–Russian border; Ixodes persulcatus