Diplorickettsia Bacteria in an Ixodes scapularis Tick, Vermont, USA

Abstract

An unexpected Diplorickettsia species closely related to the tickborne pathogen D. massieliensis was found in the microbiome of an Ixodes scapularis tick in Vermont, USA. This evidence of Diplorickettsia in North American ticks suggests a need for disease surveillance using molecular screening of ticks and serologic studies of humans.

Keywords

• Ixodes scapularis
• Diplorickettsia
• tick
• microbiome
• bacteria
• blacklegged tick