Video Experimental Relacionado

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Extraction of Saliva, Haemolymph, Salivary Glands, and Midgut from Individual Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Extraction of Saliva, Haemolymph, Salivary Glands, and Midgut from Individual Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Published on: October 31, 2025

Diversidad genética de Rickettsia parkeri en tres especies diferentes de garrapatas duras (familia: Ixodidae)

Madeleine Meyer Torelli^1,2, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez^1,2,3, Kristy Baus¹

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.

Parasites & vectors

|February 26, 2026

Abstracto

Background:

Rickettsia parkeri sensu stricto, a causative agent of spotted fever rickettsiosis, is spread via the bite of infected ticks within the Amblyomma maculatum complex group. In the United States of America (USA), Am. maculatum Koch, 1844 is the primary vector for R. parkeri; however, Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus, 1758) and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, 1821) have demonstrated potential to transmit R. parkeri under laboratory conditions. In this study, we investigate the genetic differences between R. parkeri detected in Am. maculatum, the primary enzootic vector, and potential secondary vectors - Am. americanum and De. variabilis.

Methods:

Using Nanopore long-read amplicon sequencing, we compared four R. parkeri genes amplified from naturally infected Am. maculatum, Am. americanum, and De. variabilis collected in the USA. Three R. parkeri genes associated with potential virulence factors were sequenced: outer membrane protein A (OmpA/sca0), outer membrane protein B (OmpB/sca5), and surface cell antigen 4 (gene D/sca4). One species-level gene target was used for species confirmation: 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S).

Results:

Differences in cellular-entry and pathogen chromosomal genes (OmpA, OmpB, and 16S) were detected within the different tick species. No differences were noted in the cell-to-cell mediated transfer gene (gene D) between tick species.

Conclusions:

This preliminary study suggests that infection in Am. americanum may lead to changes in R. parkeri genes responsible for pathogen-host cell attachment and replication processes, but once established in a host cell, R. parkeri transfer between cells is unlikely to be impacted.

Palabras clave:

Amblyomma americanum Rickettsia parkeri Vectores de arácnidos Garrapata estrella solitaria Secuenciación de lectura larga Secuenciación Nanopore Rickettsia del grupo de la fiebre manchada

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