SURVEY OF Rickettsia spp. IN TICKS IN NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

<p><em>Rickettsia parkeri </em>is an obligate intracellular pathogenic bacterium that is commonly transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, <em>Amblyomma maculatum</em>. <em>Rickettsia parkeri</em> is the causative agent of <em>Rickettsia parkeri </em>rickettsiosis, which is a disease characterized by nonspecific symptomology. Significant effort by numerous research groups focuses on determining the geographic distribution of potential vectors of this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to study <em>A. maculatum </em>populations in Nacogdoches County, Texas, for the presence of <em>Rickettsia parkeri.</em> Over a two-year period, 49 ticks were collected in Nacogdoches county and taxonomically identified. The DNA was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, and the UltraClean Microbial DNA Isolation Kit. The genomic contents of the tick were subjected to PCR amplification to identify <em>Rickettsia </em>genus bacteria. Any ticks testing positive for <em>Rickettsia </em>spp. were subjected to PCR to test for <em>R. parkeri </em>and <em>R. rickettsii</em>. Ultimately, 26% of ticks collected were positive for a rickettsia bacteria with 6% positive for <em>Rickettsia parkeri.</em></p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Blakley, Nathaniel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sarah Canterberry
• Robert Wiggers
• Kevin Langford

• Rickettsia parkeri
• ticks
• Amblyomma maculatum
• Amblyomma americanum
• Animal Diseases
• Bacterial Infections and Mycoses

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/192

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1205