Seasonal distribution of Rickettsia spp. in ticks in northeast Algeria

Abstract

This article discusses research conducted on the sampling of two tick species: <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Rhipicephalus bursa</i>. Ticks were collected in northern Algeria (El Tarf) in 2014 and studied for differences in abundance and seasonal distribution of population dynamics, as well as tested by PCR for the presence of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. By molecular tools, four <i>Rickettsia</i> pathogens agents were detected: <i>R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. raoultii</i> and <i>R. massiliae.</i>