Molecular detection of Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi in ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) collected from herpetofauna in San Juan de Carare, Colombia.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge about ticks and Rickettsiae in Colombia is still limited and the areas of the country where studies have been conducted are scarce. In this study, ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) associated with reptiles and amphibians in San Juan de Carare, Santander department, were morphologically and molecularly identified and tested for the presence of Rickettsia. For the molecular characterization of ticks, CO1, 12S and 16S sequences were generated and compared with other sequences available in genbank. Our analyses confirmed that the collected ticks were Amblyomma dissimile, and we provide the first report of this species parasitizing the snake Leptodeira septentrionalis. Of the samples analyzed, 69% were positive for Rickettsia sp. using the gltA, ompA and sca1 genes. Rickett

SUBMITTER: Cotes-Perdomo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9474317 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature