Journal of Parasitology (2010) 96, 1086-1088

Patrick Kelly, Helene Lucas, Lorenza Beati, Charles Yowell, Suman Mahan and John Dame (2010)
Rickettsia africae in Amblyomma variegatum and domestic ruminants on eight Caribbean islands
Journal of Parasitology 96 (6), 1086-1088
Abstract: We used PCRs with ompA primers to determine if spotted fever group rickettsiae occurred in Amblyomma variegatum from 6 Caribbean islands. Positive amplicons were obtained from ticks from the U.S. Virgin Islands (9/18; 50%), Dominica (39/171; 30%), Montserrat (2/5; 40%), Nevis (17/34; 50%), St. Kitts (46/227; 20%), and St. Lucia (1/14; 7%). Sequences for a convenience sample of reaction products obtained from A. variegatum on St. Kitts (7), American Virgin Islands (4), Montserrat (2), and St. Lucia (1) were 100% homologous with that of Rickettsia africae, the agent of African tick-bite fever. To determine if transmission of R. africae occurred, we used Rickettsia rickettsii antigen in IFA tests and found positive titers (≥1/80) with sera from cattle, goats, and sheep from Dominica (24/95 [25%], 2/136 [2%], 0/58 [0%]), Nevis (12/45 [27%], 5/157 [3%], 0/90 [0%]), St. Kitts (2/43 [5%], 1/25 [4%), 1/35 [3%]), and St. Lucia (6/184 [3%] cattle), respectively. No seropositive animals were found in Grenada (0/4, 0/98/, 0/86), Montserrat (0/12, 0/26, 0/52), or Puerto Rico (0/80 cattle). Our study indicates that R. africae and African tick-bite fever are widespread in the Caribbean.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Lorenza Beati

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Amblyomma variegatum		Puerto Rico
	Amblyomma variegatum		Dominica
	Amblyomma variegatum		Grenada
	Amblyomma variegatum		Montserrat
	Amblyomma variegatum		Saint Kitts and Nevis
	Amblyomma variegatum		Saint Lucia
	Amblyomma variegatum		United States Virgin Isl.