Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Methods for Rapid Transfer and Localization of Lyme Disease Pathogens Within the Tick Gut
Published on: February 14, 2011
Detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA in Amblyomma americanum ticks in Connecticut and Rhode Island
J W Ijdo1, C Wu, L A Magnarelli
1Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8031, USA.
Abstract:
Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum ticks, which are most abundant in the southern United States. Because serologic evidence suggests that residents of Connecticut are exposed to E. chaffeensis, A. americanum ticks were collected in Connecticut and Rhode Island for PCR analysis to detect E. chaffeensis DNA. Eight of 106 (7.6%) A. americanum ticks from Connecticut and 6 of 52 (11.5%) from Rhode Island contained E. chaffeensis DNA. Thus, E. chaffeensis is present in ticks in southern New England and transmission of E. chaffeensis may occur there.
