Abstract
We detected Rickettsia africae, the agent of African tick-bite fever (ATBF), by amplification of fragments of gltA, ompA, and ompB genes from 3 specimens of Amblyomma loculosum ticks collected from humans and birds in New Caledonia. Clinicians who treat persons in this region should be on alert for ATBF.
Highlights
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia and are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods, mainly ticks
Positive and negative controls gave expected results in all tests. quantitative PCR (qPCR) and subsequent standard PCR for ompA and gltA were positive for 3 specimens of A. loculosum: 2 nymphs collected from humans on Chesterfield Island, New Caledonia, and 1 female collected from birds on Walpole Island, New Caledonia
R. africae is the typical agent of African tick-bite fever
Summary
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia and are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods, mainly ticks. Tick DNA samples positive by using qPCR were subjected to standard PCR using CS2d and CS.1258n, which amplify an 1,178-bp fragment of Rickettsia gltA. QPCR and subsequent standard PCR for ompA and gltA were positive for 3 specimens of A. loculosum: 2 nymphs collected from humans on Chesterfield Island, New Caledonia, and 1 female collected from birds on Walpole Island, New Caledonia.
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