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Rickettsia raoultii, the predominant Rickettsia found in Dermacentor silvarum ticks in China–Russia border areas

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Abstract

Since the year 2000, clinical patterns resembling tick-borne rickettsioses have been noticed in China–Russia border areas. Epidemiological data regarding species of the aetiological agent, tick vector prevalence and distribution as well as incidence of human cases in the areas are still sparse to date. In order to identify Rickettsia species occurring in the areas, we investigated Dermacentor silvarum collected in the selected areas. Rickettsia raoultii was the predominant Rickettsia found in D. silvarum evident with ompA, ompB, gltA and 17 kDa protein genes. The Rickettsia prevalence in D. silvarum appeared to be 32.25 % with no sex difference. The results extend the common knowledge about the geographic distribution of R. raoultii and its candidate vector tick species, which suggest an emerged potential threat of human health in the areas.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (30400364, 81271878), Special Fund of the Ministry of Health of P. R. China (Grant no. 201202019) for funding the research; Heilongjiang Import and Export Inspection and Quarantine Bureau autonomous scientific research subject (Grant no .2013HK005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China

    Jing Wen & Yi-jing Li

  2. Heihe Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, China

    Jing Wen, Dan Jiao, Jian-hua Wang, De-hai Yao, Zhi-xiang Liu & Gang Zhao

  3. Department of Vector Biology and Control, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Sun

  4. Heilongjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China

    Wen-dong Ju & Cheng Cheng

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  1. Jing Wen
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  2. Dan Jiao
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  3. Jian-hua Wang
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  4. De-hai Yao
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  5. Zhi-xiang Liu
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  6. Gang Zhao
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  7. Wen-dong Ju
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  8. Cheng Cheng
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  9. Yi-jing Li
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  10. Yi Sun
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Correspondence to Yi-jing Li or Yi Sun.

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Wen, J., Jiao, D., Wang, Jh. et al. Rickettsia raoultii, the predominant Rickettsia found in Dermacentor silvarum ticks in China–Russia border areas. Exp Appl Acarol 63, 579–585 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014-9792-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014-9792-0

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