Molecular Detection and Characterization of Rickettsia sp. in Hard Ticks Collected in Nacogdoches, Texas

<p>The number of cases of tick-borne diseases is increasing in the United States. Many efforts to control ticks have been made and are continuously being developed. These methods include surveillance of ticks and detection of the tick-borne pathogens.This study examined hard ticks in Nacogdoches, Texas, to test for the presence of <em>Rickettsia </em>sp. 47 ticks were collected from vegetation by flagging and their species, sex, and developmental stage were determined using available keys. Individual ticks were processed for nucleic acid extraction and molecular detection of <em>Rickettsia </em>sp. using PCR-based methods. The citrate cynthease gene, 17kDa gene, and outer membrane protein A gene were used as genetic markers. All 47 ticks were tested with these markers and out of 13 <em>Amblyomma americanum </em>ticks 4 were positive, 9 <em>Dermacentor variabillis </em>ticks 1 was positive, 6 <em>Amblyomma maculatum </em>ticks 4 were positive, and out of 19 <em>Ixodes scapularis </em>ticks 12 were positive.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Standifird, Haley Nicole

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Robert Wiggers
• Dr. Zeljko Radulović
• Dr. Dennis Gravatt

• ticks
• Rickettsia
• Nacogdoches
• Rocky mountain spotted fever
• RMSF
• Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/505

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1559