Rickettsia helvetica in Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks

Abstract

We report on the molecular evidence that Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Croatia are infected with Rickettsia helvetica (10%) or Rickettsia slovaca (2%) or co-infected with both species (1%). These findings expand the knowledge of the geographic distribution of R. helvetica and D. reticulatus ticks.

Keywords

• Dermacentor reticulatus
• Rickettsia helvetica
• spotted fever group rickettsiae
• ticks
• molecular analysis
• dispatch