RESUMEN
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a bacterium belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. In Mexico, only 2 species have been recorded in association with tick species and humans. The objective of the present study was to detect the presence of bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia in ticks collected from the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, Mexico. The collected ticks were identified and analyzed individually by polymerase chain reaction to amplify a fragment of the Anaplasmataceae 16S rRNA gene and the Ehrlichia-specific dsb gene. A total of 204 ticks, corresponding to 5 species of Ixodidae and 1 of Argasidae, were collected from 147 mammals of 6 species and 4 orders; 57 ticks collected from vegetation were also included. Among the total ticks collected, 1.47% (3/204) was positive for Ehrlichia sp. DNA was obtained using the primers EHR 16SD and EHR 16SR for 16S rRNA and DSB-330 and DSB-728 for dsb. The positive samples corresponded to a larva (Amblyomma sp.) associated with Didelphis virginiana and 2 nymphs (Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum) infesting Nasua narica. None of the ticks collected from the vegetation tested positive for Ehrlichia sp. DNA on the basis of the 16S rRNA and dsb genes. The sequences from the larvae of Amblyomma sp. and the nymphs of A. cf. oblongoguttatum were similar to those of E. chaffeensis. The phylogenetic analysis inferred with maximum likelihood corroborated the identity as E. chaffeensis. Although the role of these tick species as vectors of E. chaffeensis is still undetermined, the presence of infected ticks in the area indicates a potential zoonotic risk.
Asunto(s)
Amblyomma , Ehrlichia chaffeensis , México , Animales , Ehrlichia chaffeensis/aislamiento & purificación , Ehrlichia chaffeensis/genética , Amblyomma/microbiología , Ehrlichiosis/transmisión , Ehrlichiosis/microbiología , ARN Ribosómico 16S/análisis , Bosques , Vectores Arácnidos/microbiología , Ninfa/microbiología , Ninfa/crecimiento & desarrollo , Femenino , Ixodidae/microbiología , HumanosRESUMEN
The study of Acari associated with cricetid rodents in Mexico began at the end of the 1930s. Despite efforts to gathering the information, only listings were built, but none of these studies present an analysis of the available data. A search was made through electronic databases; in addition, some not published records contained at Collection of Laboratorio de Acarología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México were included in the inventory. Combining the literature records and those deposited in the collection, the total number of species of Acari associated with this family of rodents is 165, distributed in two superorders, four orders, 15 families, and 57 genera. Of the 15 families registered, the richest is Trombiculidae (70 nominal species and 75 taxa), followed by Laelapidae (39 and 42, respectively), Ixodidae (13 nominal and 16 taxa), and Leewenhoekiidae (13 nominal and taxa). From the bibliographic searches, a total of 76 papers were recovered with information on the association between Acari and cricetid rodents in Mexico. The main detected approach in the literature was taxonomic (75 works) and one on detection of pathogens. From the 145 known species of cricetids recorded in Mexico, only 72 (distributed in 18 genera) have been studied and found to host Acari. The use of regionalization of Mexico in provinces allowed us to map the records of Acari associated to cricetids in the most natural approximation of their distribution. We recognize and discuss seven factors that favor the scarcity and asymmetry of acarological studies in Mexico.
Asunto(s)
Ácaros y Garrapatas , Trombiculidae , Animales , Roedores , Arvicolinae , México , GeografíaRESUMEN
We examined tick communities on wild felid hosts in three ecoregions of Mexico. We collected 186 ticks of 7 species from 10 pumas (Puma concolor) and 9 jaguars (Panthera onca). Tick community composition varied across the ecoregions, and across host species within each region. Overall, Ixodes affinis, Amblyomma ovale, and Amblyomma tenellum were the most abundant species; however, only the latter two ticks were distributed across all three ecoregions, while I. affinis, along with Ixodes spinipalpis, Amblyomma inornatum, and Amblyomma parvum were restricted to more limited geographical regions. Ixodes affinis occurred strictly in southern tropical rainforest ecoregions and was significantly more abundant in Selva Lacandona compared with the Yucatán Peninsula. Amblyomma ovale was significantly more common in the tropical dry forest in the Pacific coastal ecoregion. Amblyomma tenellum abundance tended to be higher on jaguars, while I. affinis abundance was higher on pumas. Regional distribution patterns of some tick species (e.g., I. affinis and I. spinipalpis) may be determined by off-host environmental conditions rather than host factors. In contrast, at the local scale, occurrence and abundance of some tick species (e.g., A. tenellum, A. ovale and Rhipicephalus microplus) might be driven by ecological-host factors, such as habitat use or predator-prey relationships.
Asunto(s)
Ixodes , Panthera , Puma , Animales , México/epidemiología , SimpatríaRESUMEN
The present study analyzes the diversity of bacteria of the genus Rickettsia in ticks collected from wild mammals and vegetation at the Chamela Biological Station (EBCh), Jalisco, Mexico, a core area in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, which is characterized by the presence of tropical dry forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Ticks were collected during April and November 2018 and 2019, determined to species, and subsequently processed for rickettsiae. Genomic DNA was extracted from each of 349 ticks (198 from mammals, 151 from vegetation) and screened for Rickettsia by targeting the gltA and ompA genes. Overall, 75 ticks (21.5%) were positive for rickettsiae (46 from mammals, 29 from vegetation). Through BLASTn and maximum likelihood analysis, four Rickettsia taxa were identified. Only Rickettsia amblyommatis had been previously recorded in the vicinity of the EBCh, and we confirm its presence in this reserve, associated with Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum and Amblyomma parvum. Additionally, we record for the first time at EBCh the taxa Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, which is known to cause spotted fever illness in humans, detected in Amblyomma ovale; Rickettsia bellii in A. parvum and Ornithodoros talaje; and an undescribed Rickettsia sp. in Ixodes sinaloa.
Asunto(s)
Ixodidae , Rickettsia , Garrapatas , Animales , Brasil , Ecosistema , Bosques , Humanos , Ixodidae/microbiología , Mamíferos , México , Rickettsia/genética , Garrapatas/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Based on tick specimens collected recently in Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Brazil, we provide morphological descriptions of the nymph and adults of Ornithodoros clarki Jones & Clifford, 1972 from the first three countries, and the larva and nymph of Ornithodoros rondoniensis (Labruna, Terassini, Camargo, Brandão, Ribeiro & Estrada-Peña, 2008) from Brazil. Also, an analysis of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences was performed to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of these tick species. Adults and nymphs of O. clarki and O. rondoniensis are unique among the Argasidae family by presenting exceptionally large spiracular plates with small goblets, and an integument with smooth polygonal mammillae. However, these two species are morphologically distinct based on specific patterns of coxal folds, idiosomal mammillae and pilosity, and female genital flap. In contrast, the larvae of O. clarki and O. rondoniensis are morphologically identical, except for a general larger size of the former species; this slight difference is corroborated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) by using 40 morphometric variables. Phylogenetic analyses including 16S rDNA partial sequences of different Ornithodoros taxa from Central and South America indicate that O. rondoniensis from Brazil diverges from O. clarki from Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. However, phylogenetic distance separating both alleged species is similar or slightly lower than the distances depicted for conspecific populations of a few other Ornithodoros species. Nonetheless, our primary criterion to maintain O. rondoniensis as a valid species is because its adult and nymphal stages do present distinct morphological traits that easily distinguish these postlarval stages from O. clarki.
Asunto(s)
Ornithodoros , Filogenia , Américas , Animales , Larva/anatomía & histología , Ninfa/anatomía & histología , Ornithodoros/anatomía & histología , Ornithodoros/clasificación , Ornithodoros/genética , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., is described from the intestine of the transvolcanic deermouse Peromyscus hylocetes Merriam 1898 (Cricetidae) from Parque Nacional Nevado de Colima "El Floripondio", Jalisco, Mexico. The new species can be distinguished morphologically from the other 18 congeneric species of Moniliformis by a combination of morphological and molecular characters including the number of hooks on the proboscis (12 longitudinal rows, each one with six to eight transversally arranged unrooted hooks), the proboscis length (230-270 µm), the female trunk length (159-186 mm) and egg size (40-70 × 20-40). For molecular distinction, nearly complete sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) of the mitochondrial DNA of the new species were obtained and compared with available sequences downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses inferred with the three molecular markers consistently showed that Moniliformis ibunami n. sp. is sister to other congeneric species of Moniliformis. The genetic distance with cox 1 gene among Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., M. saudi, M. cryptosaudi, M. kalahariensis, M. necromysi and M. moniliformis ranged from 20 to 27%. Morphological evidence and high genetic distance, plus the phylogenetic analyses, indicate that acanthocephalans collected from the intestines of transvolcanic deer mice represent a new species which constitutes the seventh species of the genus Moniliformis in the Americas.
Asunto(s)
Helmintiasis Animal/epidemiología , Moniliformis/clasificación , Peromyscus , Enfermedades de los Roedores/epidemiología , Animales , Femenino , Genes de Helminto , Helmintiasis Animal/parasitología , Masculino , México/epidemiología , Microscopía Electrónica de Rastreo , Moniliformis/anatomía & histología , Moniliformis/genética , Moniliformis/ultraestructura , Filogenia , Prevalencia , Enfermedades de los Roedores/parasitologíaRESUMEN
The Flora and Fauna Protection Area (Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna-ÁPFF) Cerro del Mohinora, is the highest mountain in northern Mexico, reaching an elevation of 3,300 meters. It constitutes one of the last high-elevation islands of alpine and subalpine vegetation known in the Sierra Madre Occidental, in the extreme southwestern part of Chihuahua. The ÁPFF Cerro del Mohinora is located near the state border and limits with Durango and Sinaloa. This type of ecosystem located at high altitudes is in danger of disappearing since only 1% or less of its original extension remains; it is considered a refuge for species with boreal affinities (McDonald et al. 2011).
Asunto(s)
Musarañas , Animales , Ecosistema , México , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
Larvae of Ornithodoros knoxjonesi collected at five localities in three countries were studied using morphological and molecular methods to confirm this species' taxonomic validity. The larva of O. knoxjonesi is characterized as having 14 pairs of dorsal setae, eight pairs of ventral setae, plus a posteromedian seta; an elongate dorsal plate, tapered anteriorly; and a hypostome that is narrower near its midlength, with posteriorly projecting denticles. Although the larvae of O. knoxjonesi and Ornithodoros peropteryx are morphologically quite similar, the larva of O. knoxjonesi is characterized as having dorsal setae that are wider at the tip than at the base, while in O. peropteryx these setae are narrower at the tip than at the base; moreover, the dorsal setae are shorter in O. knoxjonesi (Al 0.037-0.065; Pl 0.035-0.059) than in O. peropteryx (Al 0.120-0.132; Pl 0.080-0.096). These species also differ in that O. knoxjonesi possesses only the Al seta on tarsus I, whereas O. peropteryx has both Al and Pl setae. And while both species have two setae on coxae I-III, in O. knoxjonesi the anterior seta is tapering and smooth and the posterior is fringed, while both setae are fringed in O. peropteryx. At the molecular level, based on a maximum likelihood analysis using approximately 400 bp of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene, O. knoxjonesi appears as an independent lineage, separated from O. peropteryx by a genetic distance of 16.28 %. Balantiopteryx plicata is a common host of O. knoxjonesi; however, in this work we report Pteronotus personatus and Pteronotus gymnonotus as new hosts of this tick species.
Asunto(s)
Distribución Animal , Quirópteros/parasitología , Ornithodoros/clasificación , Ornithodoros/fisiología , Animales , Costa Rica , ADN Ribosómico/análisis , Larva/clasificación , Larva/genética , Larva/crecimiento & desarrollo , Larva/fisiología , México , Nicaragua , Ornithodoros/genética , Ornithodoros/crecimiento & desarrollo , FilogeniaRESUMEN
The Chamela Biological Station (ChBS) is located in the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the State of Jalisco. This represents one of the core areas of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, characterized by one of the most threatened ecosystems, the tropical dry forest. Although accumulated knowledge of biological diversity, only few studies have been focused on ectoparasites or ectodytes associated with mammals, only 23 arthropod taxa had been recorded. In order to increase knowledge about arthropods associated with Mexican mammals, the objective of this work was to record the richness of arthropods (mites, ticks, lice, and fleas) associated with small and medium-sized mammals in the ChBS. A total of 81 hosts belonging to four orders, six families and nine species were captured. From these hosts, 4,946 arthropods were recovered: 4,007 mites, 673 ticks, 230 lice, and 36 fleas. Among medium-sized mammals, Nasua narica (L.) and Didelphis virginiana Kerr showed the highest levels of richness, with six arthropod taxa; among rodents, Heteromys pictus (Thomas) had the highest number of associated species (five). Within the 22 arthropod taxa registered in the present work, 12 represent new records for the reserve, and 3 represent new records for Mexico. With this study, the arthropod fauna associated with mammals in the ChBS has been raised to 38 taxa. In terms of biological conservation, knowledge of the species that inhabit natural reserves must be a priority, since this represents the baseline for species protected, not only in Mexico but around the world.
Asunto(s)
Ácaros y Garrapatas , Biodiversidad , Insectos , Mamíferos/parasitología , Animales , MéxicoRESUMEN
Distribution and host data from published literature and previously unpublished collection records are provided for all 37 species of soft ticks, family Argasidae, that are known to occur in Mexico, including Ornithodoros dugesi, which is generally regarded as a junior synonym of Ornithodoros talaje, and Ornithodoros marinkellei, a new record for Mexico. Parasite-host and host-parasite lists are presented, together with keys to adults and larvae, and a gazetteer of collection localities supplemented by maps showing each species' distribution in Mexico.
Asunto(s)
Ácaros y Garrapatas , Argasidae , Ornithodoros , Animales , Larva , MéxicoRESUMEN
The family Myrmecophagidae contains three anteater species: Tamandua mexicana (Saussure, 1860), Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758). These American anteater species currently face many conservation threats, among which road traffic accidents stand out. Parasitic studies on this family are scarce, and some of them include records of ectoparasites. Specifically for northern tamandua (T. mexicana), there is a lack of studies at population level. The objectives of the present research were to carry out an epidemiological study of tick species and its abundance on road-killed northern anteater specimens and, moreover, to perform a literature review of ticks collected from anteaters of Myrmecophagidae family. Five tick species were identified, including four Amblyomma spp. and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, on 23 road-killed anteaters. Tick infestation prevalence was 43% (10/23), with a median tick infestation intensity of 3.5 per anteater (interquartile range 1-13.7). The bibliographic review highlighted the existence of twenty-nine ixodid species recorded on the three anteater species from 14 countries, mainly Brazil. The most common tick species on the Myrmecophagidae family are Amblyomma nodosum, A. calcaratum, A. cajennense sensu lato and A. auricularium. Some of these ixodids were also described as vectors of pathogens. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of ticks on anteater fitness, and to assess the role of these mammals as reservoirs of vector-borne diseases.
Asunto(s)
Ixodidae/fisiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Xenarthra , Animales , México/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Sixty-five wild carnivores and twenty free-roaming dogs from the Janos Biosphere Reserve (JBR), northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, were inspected for ticks which were tested by molecular assays to identify Borrelia and Rickettsia infections. Overall, 45 ticks belonging to five taxa, including Dermacentor parumapertus, Ixodes hearlei, Ixodes kingi, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., and Ornithodoros sp. were collected from 9.2% of the wild carnivores and 60% of the free-roaming dogs. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. DNA was detected in an I. kingi tick collected from a kit fox (Vulpes macrotis), while Rickettsia massiliae was detected in two (6.5%) of the 31 Rh. sanguineus s.l. collected from free-roaming dogs. Our results revealed host associations between free-roaming dogs and wild carnivore hosts and their ticks in the JBR. The presence of the etiological agents of Lyme disease and spotted fever rickettsiosis in ticks raises the potential risk of tick-borne diseases at the human-domestic-wildlife interface in northwestern Mexico.
Asunto(s)
Borrelia burgdorferi/aislamiento & purificación , Canidae , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Ixodidae/microbiología , Mephitidae , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Animales , Argasidae/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Perros , Femenino , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Larva/crecimiento & desarrollo , Larva/microbiología , Larva/fisiología , Masculino , México/epidemiología , Ninfa/crecimiento & desarrollo , Ninfa/microbiología , Ninfa/fisiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
The study of rickettsial agents associated with ticks from wild felines is scarce. In Europe, three species of Rickettsia have been detected (Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia massiliae, and Rickettsia monacensis) in ticks collected from the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, no studies have been conducted on another lynx species. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks associated with bobcats (Lynx rufus) collected in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. During 1999 and 2004, nine bobcats from two municipalities of the state were trapped and visually inspected for the presence of ticks. A total of 95 ticks were collected from these lynxes. Ticks were preserved in 96% ethanol. Subsequently we identified the presence of Rickettsia DNA by the amplification of several fragments of genes 17â¯kDa, ompA and ompB. Recovered sequences were concatenated, aligned, and compared with those of reference deposited in GenBank. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Maximum Likelihood method. The ticks were morphologically identified as belonging to the species Dermacentor variabilis. We selected a subset of 60 ticks which were examined, and 5% (3/60) were positive with an identity of 99% to sequences of R. rickettsii deposited in GenBank. The results obtained represent the first record of R. rickettsii in ticks associated with wild carnivores, and in particular with bobcats distributed in northeast of Mexico.
Asunto(s)
Dermacentor/microbiología , Lynx/parasitología , Rickettsia rickettsii/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Femenino , Masculino , México , Filogenia , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN/veterinariaRESUMEN
Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that are associated with a wide range of vertebrate hosts, among them also reptiles and amphibians. They have dynamic ecological interactions with multiple microorganisms, ranging from endosymbionts to pathogens, such as the members of the genus Rickettsia. The aim of this work was to detect Rickettsia in ticks from amphibians and reptiles from southern Mexico by the amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the gltA and ompA genes, and also to compile all the published records worldwide of Rickettsia associated with ticks attached to reptiles and amphibians, in order to elucidate the host-parasite relationships, and to identify the geographical distribution of each bacterial species. We record for the first time the presence of Rickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi and Rickettsia amblyommatis in ticks from several reptiles and amphibians collected in three new localities from the states of Guerrero and Veracruz, Mexico. Additionally, we here report 23 Rickettsia taxa associated with 18 tick species attached to 42 host taxa of amphibians and reptiles in 36 countries. Our findings increase the inventory of rickettsia reported in Mexico and summarizes the knowledge of these bacteria associated with ticks of this particular group of vertebrate host worldwide.
Asunto(s)
Anfibios , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Reptiles , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas/microbiología , Animales , México/epidemiología , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/fisiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
We report Rickettsia parkeri and Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in ticks of the Amblyomma maculatum group collected from dogs in Sonora, Mexico. Molecular characterization of these bacteria was accomplished by DNA amplification and sequence analysis of portions of the rickettsial genes gltA, htrA, ompA, and ompB.
Asunto(s)
Rickettsia , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas/microbiología , Animales , Genes Bacterianos , Humanos , México/epidemiología , Tipificación Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/genética , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Análisis de Secuencia de ADNRESUMEN
During a study to identify zoonotic pathogens in northwestern Mexico, we detected the presence of a rickettsial agent in Dermacentor parumapertus ticks from black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus). Comparison of 4 gene sequences (gltA, htrA, ompA, and ompB) of this agent showed 99%-100% identity with sequences of Rickettsia parkeri.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Arácnidos/microbiología , Dermacentor/microbiología , Infecciones por Rickettsia/epidemiología , Infecciones por Rickettsia/microbiología , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/genética , Animales , Femenino , Genes Bacterianos , Humanos , Masculino , México/epidemiología , Filogenia , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Rickettsia/transmisiónRESUMEN
The chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) of Mexico have been little studied and many publications include isolated records. This paper summarizes current knowledge of chewing lice recorded from Mexico resulting from an exhaustive search of the literature published from 1866 to 2017. We found 342 louse species associated with 206 bird and 28 mammal species. As a result, we provide a checklist of the chewing lice recorded from Mexico, including a host-parasite list and their geographical distribution within the country.
Asunto(s)
Ischnocera , Infestaciones por Piojos , Amblycera , Animales , Enfermedades de las Aves , México , PhthirapteraRESUMEN
The male and the tritonymph of Ioanella mimon are described for the first time parasitizing to Mimon cozumelae from Yucatan, Mexico. Male of Ioanella mimon is characterized by the presence of legs I with the tibia and tarsus fused forming a small complex devoided of apical claws, legs II-IV with two claws, setae vi at level of anterior end of genital plate, genital plate rounded with an anterior projection, all intercoxal setae short; while the tritonymph is characterized by the presence of legs I unequal; legs II-IV with 2-1-1 claws, and posterior region of dorsal idiosoma with 3 pairs of cylindrical and toothed setae. Additionally, we include new locality and host records for Eudusbabekia mimon which was also found on Mimon cozumelae. Both species were described originally in association with Mimon bennettii at Bartica, Guyana.
RESUMEN
The genus Rickettsia includes obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by several hematophagous arthropods such as ticks, fleas and sucking lice. In particular hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been cited as the main vectors of pathogenic rickettsiae in Mexico. However, there have been only two records of a single Rickettsia species associated with Mexican soft ticks (Argasidae). In this study, we searched for rickettsial DNA in argasid ticks (13 adults and eight nymphs of Ornithodoros yumatensis) from two bat caves in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Additionally one larva collected in a cave from Chiapas, Mexico, and associated with Desmodus rotundus was used to corroborate the tick taxonomic determination. Of these, nine ticks (43%) yielded expected PCR products for the rickettsial gltA gene. These PCR-positive ticks were tested with additional PCR protocols targeting the rickettsial genes gltA, ompA and ompB. DNA partial sequences from these genes showed 99-100% identities with Rickettsia lusitaniae, an agent isolated from O. erraticus in Portugal, and closely related to R. felis and R. hoogstraalii. Based on the results from this study, the inventory of rickettsiae distributed in Mexico increases from six to seven species.
Asunto(s)
Ornithodoros/microbiología , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Cuevas , Femenino , Masculino , México , Filogenia , Rickettsia/genéticaRESUMEN
We report the first case of "Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii" detected in Amblyomma mixtum ticks on humans on the west coast of Mexico. This is the most western record of "Ca. R. amblyommii" in the Western Hemisphere, representing the first record for the western coast of the Americas. Even if the record is far from the previously known locations for the species it does not represent a new record regarding temperature, precipitation and topographic parameters. Since "Ca. R. amblyommii" antibodies have been detected in patients suspected of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the tick A. mixtum has been associated with humans, it is important to consider "Ca. R. amblyommii" as a potential risk for the human population that has not been considered at risk before.