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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1332-1334, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Evidence of the Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Agent in Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Switzerland

Nicola Pusterla,1,* Christian M. Leutenegger,1 Jon B. Huder,2 Rainer Weber,3 Ueli Braun,1 and Hans Lutz1

Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich,1 Swiss National Center for Retroviruses, University of Zurich, CH-8044 Zurich,2 and Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich,3 Switzerland

Received 24 August 1998/Returned for modification 6 November 1998/Accepted 26 January 1999

A total of 1,667 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from five regions in Switzerland where there have been sporadic occurrences of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs and horses. The ticks were examined for rickettsiae of the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group via nested PCR. Twenty-one ticks (1.3%) were positive; 3 (0.5%) were nymphs, 6 (1.3%) were adult males, and 12 (1.9%) were adult females. The number of positive ticks varied with the stage of development and with the geographical origin. Nucleotide sequencing of the isolated PCR products identified these products as part of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia. In addition, these products had 100% homology with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The occurrence of this agent in I. ricinus in Switzerland presents a potential danger of transmission of granulocytic ehrlichiosis to dogs, horses, and humans.

* Corresponding author. Present address: University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Davis, CA 95616. Phone: (530) 752-7991. Fax: (530) 752-0414. E-mail: npusterla{at}ucdavis.edu.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1332-1334, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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