Novel rickettsia in ticks, Tasmania, Australia

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Oct;15(10):1654-6. doi: 10.3201/eid1510.090799.

Abstract

A novel rickettsia was detected in Ixodes tasmani ticks collected from Tasmanian devils. A total of 55% were positive for the citrate synthase gene by quantitative PCR. According to current criteria for rickettsia speciation, this new rickettsia qualifies as Candidatus Rickettsia tasmanensis, named after the location of its detection.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Marsupialia / parasitology
  • Nymph
  • Rickettsia / classification*
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification*
  • Tasmania / epidemiology