Spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks feeding on humans in northwestern Spain: is Rickettsia conorii vanishing?

摘要: : During a 7-year study, we identified and analyzed by PCR 4,049 ticks removed from 3,685 asymptomatic patients in Castilla y Leon (northwestern Spain). A total of 320 (belonging to 10 species) were PCR-positive for rickettsiae. Comparison amplicon sequences databases enabled us identify eigth different spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae: Rickettsia slovaca, sp. IRS3/IRS4, R. massiliae/Bar29, aeschlimannii, RpA4/DnS14, helvetica, DmS1, conorii. Although Mediterranean (MSF) is an endemic disease Leon, conorii was found only one Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick, whereas other pathogenic SFG rickettsiae much more prevalent the same area. Our data suggest that many MSF or MSF-like cases attributed could have been actually caused present biting people this region Spain.