Rickettsia helvetica in C3H/HeN mice: A model for studying pathogen-host interactions.

ABSTRACT: An infection with the tick-borne Rickettsia helvetica has been associated with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in humans, but patients are only seldomly reported. Understanding its disease etiology necessitates well-stablished infection models, improving to recognize and diagnose patients with R. helvetica infection and facilitating the development of effective control strategies. In this study, we used C3H/HeN mice as a model to establish R. helvetica infection, achieving a high infection prevalence (89-100 %). While the liver and the spleen DNA consistently tested positive for infection in all challenged mice, additional infected organs included the kidneys, heart, and the lungs. Notably, a low prevalence of infection was observed in I. ricinus nym

SUBMITTER: Maitre A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11422568 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature