Novel Candidatus Rickettsia Species Detected in Nostril Tick from Human, Gabon, 2014

Abstract

We report the identification of a nymphal nostril tick (Amblyomma sp.) from a national park visitor in Gabon and subsequent molecular detection and characterization of tickborne bacteria. Our findings provide evidence of a potentially new Rickettsia sp. circulating in Africa and indicate that tick bites may pose a risk to persons visiting parks in the region.

Keywords

• Amblyomma sp.
• Rickettsia
• Candidatus Rickettsia davousti
• nostril tick
• tick
• Gabon