County-level surveillance for the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and Rickettsia species in Kentucky.

ABSTRACT: Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis includes a group of illnesses with similar symptoms caused by Rickettsia species bacteria. While Rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a well-known pathogen, other SFG Rickettsia spp. can infect ticks and occasionally contribute to human disease. We conducted county-level surveillance of Dermacentor variabilis ticks in Kentucky to characterize the distribution and diversity of SFG Rickettsia. Ticks were collected from the environment from 2019 to 2024 by dragging a white cloth and through our Kentucky Tick Submission Program. In total, 2,023 D. variabilis ticks were collected from 114 counties. Rickettsia species were detected in 1% of Dermacentor variabilis ticks, including R. montanensis (0.47%), R. amblyommatis

SUBMITTER: Vandegriff CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12929685 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature