Topic: Isolation of Rickettsia parkeri and identification of a novel spotted fever group
Melanie Reber
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Isolation of Rickettsia parkeri and identification of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia sp. from Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) in the United States. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
Paddock CD, Fournier PE, Sumner JW, Goddard J, Elshenawy Y, Metcalfe MG, Loftis AD, Varela-Stokes A Appl Environ Microbiol 2010 Mar 5.
Until recently, Amblyomma maculatum, (the Gulf Coast tick), has garnered little attention relative to other species of human-biting ticks in the United States. A. maculatum is now recognized as the principal vector of Rickettsia parkeri, a pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) that causes an eschar-associated illness in humans that resembles Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
A novel SFGR, distinct from other recognized Rickettsia spp., has also been detected recently in A. maculatum specimens collected from several regions of the southeastern United States. In this study, 198 questing adult Gulf Coast ticks were collected from 4 locations in Florida and Mississippi; 28% were infected with R. parkeri and 3% with a novel SFGR.
Seventeen isolates of R. parkeri were cultivated in Vero E6 cells from individual specimens of A. maculatum; however, all attempts to isolate the novel SFGR were unsuccessful. Partial genetic characterization of the novel SFGR revealed identity with several recently described, incompletely characterized, and non-cultivated SFGR including Candidatus 'Rickettsia andeanae' and Rickettsia sp. 'Argentina', detected in several species of Neotropical ticks from Argentina and Peru.
These findings suggest that each of these 'novel' rickettsiae represent the same species. Our study expands considerably the number of low-passage, A. maculatum-derived isolates of R. parkeri, and characterizes a second and sympatrically distributed Rickettsia sp. found in Gulf Coast ticks.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Pinelady
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Thanks Miss Melanie. I have a neighbor who has
spotless RMSF. He asked me if I thought it was
possible he had Lyme too. I said yes...It would be
interesting to take those patients and find exactly
what is going on with it.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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I think rickettsia in general respond well to doxycycline so that may be good post exposure prophyllaxis for these TBD's as well.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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Melanie Reber
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Thanks for the replies Lady of the Pines and Beach. Yes, this is very interesting in that it verifies debilitating diseases other than 'Lyme' found in tick species other than the most cited culprits.
TBDs are so rarely only a manifestation of Bb!
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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I tested postive for RMSF when test were ran for Lyme and other tick borne disease. This post caught my interest, as I never had the spots that are said to be characteristic of RMSF. The first time I was diagnosed with Lyme disease back in 1996 I had a 104 fever and every bone in my body hurt so bad including my teeth(couuldn't even chew toast without getting excrutiating pain),I also had one bullseye expanding rash where I removed a tick but I believe the high fever is more characteristic of RMSF than Lyme. My doctor diagnosed me based on clinical presentations and gave me 3 weeks doxy, without running any blood tests. I seemed to recover pretty well. Blood test were only ran for RMSF when I again contracted Lyme in 2002 and kept complaining I did not feel well even after being treated again with doxy for three weeks. Now,even after being treated with 4 weeks IV Rochephin and 3-4 months oral Z-max, I continue to have problems with headaches, neck and shoulder muscle cramps and sever fatique. I wonder if it is combination of the non spotted rocky mountain fever your post has described and Lyme together that are causing my problems. I do feel better when on an antibiotic for awhile, but doctors don't want to prescribe these anymore. Anyone else have both these tick borne illnesses and continueing health problems afterwards?
Posts: 35 | From Reading, Pennsylvania | Registered: Mar 2010
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Haley
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I have RMSF and did not have a spotted rash. I've been on abx since 6/1/2009 and still treating.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
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Yes Chopper we do. If you do not have a LLMD to
treat you properly I suggest you hop over to
Seeking a Dr. section and post with area needed to
get you well.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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I also have a positive RMSF titer after a few years of Mino and Doxy on and off. I am making a 2nd attempt with a higher dose. Also did Biaxin, Rifampin, Bicillin, Amoxy, Zith.
Posts: 770 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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