Abstract
To determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from Tennessee and Georgia, USA. Using PCR and sequence analysis, we identified R. parkeri in 2 Amblyomma americanum ticks. This rickettsiosis may be underdiagnosed in the eastern United States.
Highlights
To determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from Tennessee and Georgia, USA
In Tennessee, our identification of only 2 A. maculatum ticks supports previous reports that this tick species is uncommon in Tennessee [9]
In Georgia, the 19 A. maculatum ticks identified were
Summary
To determine the geographic distribution of the newly recognized human pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, we looked for this organism in ticks from Tennessee and Georgia, USA. The most commonly reported rickettsial human pathogen in the United States is Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). The primary vector of R. parkeri is thought to be the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum), and naturally infected Gulf Coast ticks have been reported in numerous southeastern states [4].
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