Detection of Rickettsial DNA in Ticksin Irkutsk Region
Individually 470 Dermacentor nuttalli and 46 Haemaphysalis concinna ticks collected in Irkutsk Region were analyzed using RT-PCR test systems. Rickettsia contamination of D. nuttalli was 82,3% including 1,3% of the ticks with R. sibirica DNA. H. concinna ticks were infected by rickettsia to 8,7% and the detected DNA in 6,5% of cases belonged to R. heilongjiangensis. PCR results were confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of three gene fragments: citrate synthase (gltA) and ompA and ompB surface proteins. Thus, circulation of two Rickettsia species pathogenic to humans was determined at the examined area.