TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Switzerland
AU - Pusterla, Nicola
AU - Leutenegger, Christian M.
AU - Huder, Jon B.
AU - Weber, Rainer
AU - Braun, Ueli
AU - Lutz, Hans
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - A total of 1,667 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from five regions in Switzerland where there have been sporadic occurrences of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs and horses. The ticks were examined for rickettsiae of the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group via nested PCR. Twenty-one ticks (1.3%) were positive; 3 (0.5%) were nymphs, 6 (1.3%) were adult males, and 12 (1.9%) were adult females. The number of positive ticks varied with the stage of development and with ηe geographical origin. Nucleotide sequencing of the isolated PCR products identified these products as part of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia. In addition, these products had 100% homology with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The occurrence of this agent in I. ricinus in Switzerland presents a potential danger of transmission of granulocytic ehrlichiosis to dogs, horses, and humans.
AB - A total of 1,667 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from five regions in Switzerland where there have been sporadic occurrences of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs and horses. The ticks were examined for rickettsiae of the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group via nested PCR. Twenty-one ticks (1.3%) were positive; 3 (0.5%) were nymphs, 6 (1.3%) were adult males, and 12 (1.9%) were adult females. The number of positive ticks varied with the stage of development and with ηe geographical origin. Nucleotide sequencing of the isolated PCR products identified these products as part of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia. In addition, these products had 100% homology with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The occurrence of this agent in I. ricinus in Switzerland presents a potential danger of transmission of granulocytic ehrlichiosis to dogs, horses, and humans.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032895268&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032895268&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 10203481
AN - SCOPUS:0032895268
VL - 37
SP - 1332
EP - 1334
JO - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
SN - 0095-1137
IS - 5
ER -