Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in and Ticks in Italy

Abstract

In this study Ixodes ricinus and Haemaphysalis punctata ticks are examined. For the first time we detected Rickettsia conorii in I. ricinus and H. punctata , and Rickettsia sibirica in I. ricinus. Our results raise the question of whether other spotted fever group rickettsiae, in addition to R. conorii subsp. conorii and R. conorii subsp. israelensis , are involved in bacterial diseases in Italy and whether I. ricinus and H. punctata can act as new vectors for these rickettsiae.