Presence of a novel Ehrlichia sp. in Ixodes granulatus found in Okinawa, Japan |
| |
| Authors: | Ai Takano Shuji Ando Toshio Kishimoto Hiromi Fujita Teruki Kadosaka Yoshiki Nitta Hiroki Kawabata Haruo Watanabe |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Bacteriology;and Department of Virology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640;, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193;, Ohara Research Laboratory, Ohara General Hospital, Fukushima 960-0195;, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195;, and Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Animal Health. Okinawa 900-0024, Japan |
| |
| Abstract: | Ehrlichia -specific DNA fragments of Ehrlichia omp-1 and groEL genes were found in two I. granulatus ticks which had been collected from wild small mammals in a subtropical zone in Japan. The DNA sequences of groEL and 16SrDNA of the suspected Ehrlichia were clustered into a group of E. chaffeensis , E. muris , and Ehrlichia sp. HF565 found in I. ovatus, but were distinctly different. Therefore the Ehrlichia strain was designated as a novel Ehrlichia sp. 360. The Ehrlichia sp. 360 was detected in I. granulatus but not in any other ticks. This suggests that I. granulatus is a probable vector of Ehrlichia sp. 360 in Japan. |
| |
| Keywords: | Ehrlichia Ixodes granulatus wild small mammals |
|
|
