Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in Amblyomma parvum attached to humans in a high-altitude forest refuge within the Caatinga biome, Brazil

Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae en Amblyomma parvum parasitando humanos en un refugio forestal de gran altitud dentro del bioma Caatinga, Brasil

Objective. Report tick species parasitizing humans in an area of the Caatinga semiarid biome, northeastern Brazil, with note of rickettsial infection. Materials and methods. All ticks were identified morphologically under stereomicroscope. Some of the collected ticks were tested molecularly for the presence of DNA of bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. Ticks were submitted individually to DNA extraction (citrate synthase gene [gltA] and outer membrane protein gene [ompA]). Results. A total of 78 ticks were collected on humans, identified as adults of Amblyomma parvum (62 females and 16 males). Of these, 15 females were infected by ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’. Conclusions. The present study confirms one more area at human risk for tick bites in Brazil, also from the non-pathogenic rickettsia 'Ca. Rickettsia andeanae'

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