Ehrlichia muris in Ixodes cookei Ticks, Northeastern United States, 2016-2017

Abstract

Ehrlichia muris is an agent of human ehrlichiosis. To determine its geographic spread in the United States, during 2016-2017, we tested 8,760 ticks from 45 states. A distinct clade of E. muris found in 3 Ixodes cookei ticks from the northeastern United States suggests transmission by these ticks in this region.

Keywords: Ehrlichia muris; Ixodes cookei; Ixodes scapularis; United States; bacteria; ehrlichiosis; ticks; vector-borne infections.