Identity of ehrlichial DNA sequences derived from Ixodes ricinus ticks with those obtained from patients with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Slovenia

J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Jan;37(1):209-10. doi: 10.1128/JCM.37.1.209-210.1999.

Abstract

Adult Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks collected near Ljubljana, Slovenia, were tested for the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) by using PCR assays based on the 16S rRNA gene. Three (3.2%) of 93 ticks were found to contain granulocytic ehrlichiae. Nucleotide sequences of portions of the bacterial groESL heat shock operon amplified from these ticks were identical or nearly (99.8%) identical to those previously determined for human patients with HGE from Slovenia, providing additional evidence that the ticks were infected with the HGE agent. This study identified I. ricinus as the likely vector for these ehrlichial pathogens of humans in this part of Europe.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Ehrlichia / genetics
  • Ehrlichia / isolation & purification*
  • Ehrlichiosis / microbiology*
  • Genes, Insect / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Ixodes / genetics
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Slovenia

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF033101