Use of polymerase chain reaction to detect bacteria in arthropods: a review

Detection of bacteria in arthropod vectors traditionally has been pursued using serological and cell culture methodologies. The advent of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has made possible accurate, timely, and reproducible identification of bacteria in these vectors, particularly those microbes that are difficult to culture in vitro. We have reviewed the literature for PCR primers used to amplify gene segments of pathogenic bacteria from insect, tick, and mite vectors and provide the sequences of these primers, as well as notes on preparation of arthropod samples and direct sequencing of PCR products.