Detection of Coxiella burnetii in ticks collected from Central Spain

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2009 Oct;9(5):465-8. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2008.0070.

Abstract

A total of 1482 adult ticks collected from vegetation and animals in central Spain in 2003-2005 were tested for the presence of Coxiella burnetii by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent reverse line blot hybridization (PCR-RLB). C. burnetii was identified in 7.7% of questing ticks (80/1039) and 3.4% of ticks collected from animals (15/443) belonging to four species: Hyalomma lusitanicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhiphicephalus sanguineus, and R. pusillus. These findings show an active role of ticks in maintaining C. burnetii in wild and peridomestic cycles in central Spain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Animals, Wild
  • Birds
  • Coxiella burnetii / isolation & purification*
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / microbiology
  • Reptiles
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Ticks / microbiology*