We found Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma ovale ticks collected in Veracruz, Mexico, in 2018. We sequenced gene segments of gltA, htrA, sca0, and sca5; phylogenetic reconstruction revealed near-complete identity with R. parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest. Enhanced surveillance is needed in Mexico to determine the public health relevance of this bacterium.
Keywords: Amblyomma ovale; Atlantic Rainforest strain; Mexico; Rickettsia parkeri; Veracruz; bacteria; dogs; emerging pathogen; gltA; htrA; molecular characterization; rickettsiosis; sca0; sca5; sentinel; tickborne disease; ticks; vector-borne infections.