Author
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Reeves, Will |
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Submitted to: Experimental and Applied Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2007 Publication Date: 2/5/2008 Citation: Reeves, W.K. 2008. Molecular Evidence for a Novel Coxiella from Argas monolakensis (Acari: Argasidae) from Mono Lake, California, USA. Experimental and Applied Acarology. Vol 44:57-60 Interpretive Summary: Soft ticks have recently been associated with a number of bacteria that are potentially capable of causing diseases. 30 soft ticks from Mono Lake, California were tested to determine if these ticks harbored any potential tick-borne pathogens. A novel species of bacteria related to the agent of Q-fever was detected in 16 of 30 ticks. Technical Abstract: Argasid ticks are vectors of viral and bacterial agents of humans and animals. Recent reports indicate that some ornithophilic argasids harbored rickettsial agents. A Nearctic tick, Argas monolakensis Schwan, Corwin, Brown is ornithophilic and has not previously been examined for rickettsial agents. Thirty adult A. monolakensis were tested by PCR for DNA from Rickettsia or Coxiella. Amplicons from a Coxiella sp. that were divergent from Coxiella burnetii were detected in 16/30 A. monolakensis. These molecular isolates were similar but not identical to C. burnetii, the Coxiella spp. of other ticks, and “Coxiella cheraxi” a pathogen of crayfish. |
