Analysis of DNA sequences of spotted fever group rickettsia detected from ticks in Zhejing province

Objective To investigate the carriage of spotted fever group rickettsia by ticks collected in Zhejiang province. Methods Specific OmpA gene of spotted fever group rickettsia were amplified to detect tick samples taken from hares and boars in Jindong district. Results Specific OmpA genes were amplified in one group of Amblyomma testudinarium and one group of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides in 47 groups of 343 tick samples, which were named as ZJ42 and ZJ43 fragment respectively. ZJ42 was closely related to Rickettsia sp JL-95 and included Indel at 575-580 sites of AAATAT, which had never been reported. It suggested that ZJ42 could be a new strain or species. ZJ43 was closely related with Rickettsia BAR-29、Rickettsia massiliae Mtu 1 strain and Rickettsia rhipicephali. Conclusion The vector of spotted fever group rickettsia existed in Zhejiang. It is important to strengthen the surveillance on vector tick of spotted fever group rickettsia, especially on Amblyomma testudinarium and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, and conduct research on their pathogenicity.