Rickettsia raoultii, the predominant Rickettsia found in Mongolian Dermacentor nuttalli

  • Stephanie Speck
  • , Henri Derschum
  • , Tserennorov Damdindorj
  • , Otgonbaatar Dashdavaa
  • , Ju Jiang
  • , Philipp Kaysser
  • , Battsetseg Jigjav
  • , Erdenebat Nyamdorj
  • , Undraa Baatar
  • , Enkhtuya Munkhbat
  • , Otgonchimeg Choijilsuren
  • , Otgonsuren Gerelchuluun
  • , Angelika Römer
  • , Allen L. Richards
  • , Daniel Kiefer
  • , Holger Scholz
  • , Roman Wölfel
  • , Lothar Zöller
  • , Gerhard Dobler
  • , Sandra Essbauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since the year 2005, clinical patterns resembling tick-borne rickettsioses have been noticed in Mongolia. Epidemiological data regarding species of the aetiological agent, tick vector, prevalence, and distribution as well as incidence of human cases throughout Mongolia are still sparse to date. In order to identify Rickettsia species occurring in Mongolia, we investigated Dermacentor nuttalli (n=179) and Ixodes persulcatus (n=374) collected in 4 selected provinces. Rickettsia raoultii was the predominant Rickettsia (82% prevalence) found in D. nuttalli and was also detected in I. persulcatus (0.8%). The Rickettsia prevalence in D. nuttalli from different provinces varied between 70% and 97%. In addition, R. sibirica was identified in approximately 4% of D. nuttalli, but solely from Arkhanghai province. The results of this study extend the common knowledge about the geographic distribution of R. raoultii and its high prevalence in D. nuttalli. Although the pathogenicity of this Rickettsia is still unclear, it should be considered in Mongolian patients suspected of having tick-borne rickettsiosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-231
Number of pages5
JournalTicks and Tick-borne Diseases
Volume3
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dermacentor nuttalli
  • Ixodes persulcatus
  • Mongolia
  • Rickettsia raoultii
  • Rickettsia sibirica

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Insect Science
  • Infectious Diseases

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