Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii in Dermacentor marginatus ticks collected on wild boars in Tuscany, Italy

J Med Entomol. 2009 Nov;46(6):1490-3. doi: 10.1603/033.046.0636.

Abstract

During the hunting season 2007-2008, 494 Dermacentor marginatus (Sulzer) ticks were collected from 109 hunter-killed wild boars, Sus scrofa, in Lucca's province, Tuscany, Italy. Rickettsia slovaca, the causative agent of tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), was detected in 32.1% of ticks tested (n=112) by using polymerase chain reaction primers targeting gltA, ompA, and ompB rickettsial genes. Moreover, Rickettsia raoultii was found for the first time in Italy, with 1.8% infection prevalence. This study confirms the risk posed to humans by ticks and tick-borne pathogens in the study area, where cases of spotted fever rickettsiosis (TIBOLA) are reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dermacentor / microbiology*
  • Dermacentor / physiology
  • Female
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification*
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
  • Sus scrofa / parasitology*
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary*