Detection of a Typhus Group <i>Rickettsia</i> in <i>Amblyomma</i> Ticks in the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Abstract

A bstract : The state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico has had outbreaks of typhus group rickettsiosis, most recently recognized in 1997. Evaluation of the sera of 345 patients with a dengue‐like illness revealed that 25.5% had antibodies reactive with typhus group rickettsiae and 16% had antibodies to Rickettsia parkeri . Rickettsiae were detected by PCR and shell‐vial isolations in the field‐collected Amblyomma ticks. Molecular characterization by DNA sequence analysis of the gltA , ompB , and 17‐kDa gene identified the organisms to be R. prowazekii .