XXXX (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) from Kansas.

@entity235 @entity23194 @entity16736 @entity15798 @entity221
The role of lone star ticks as vectors for @entity15798 ( @entity15798 ) remains poorly described. We compared the entomological inoculation rates (EIRs) for @entity16736 spp. for representative sites in Missouri and Kansas, states that frequently report @entity15798 each year. Host-seeking ticks were collected during 2006 and pooled tick homogenates analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to detect probable @entity16736 , with confirmation for multiple gene targets performed on individual ticks from pools that screened positive. Of 870 adult and nymphal lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), 0.46% contained DNA of @entity16736 . Interestingly, two of these positive ticks were concurrently infected by @entity23194 . More than 90% of lone star tick pools contained @entity23194 DNA. Of 169 @entity235 ticks that were analyzed, none were infected by @entity16736 . The entomological inoculation rate for spotted @entity221 group (SFG) rickettsiae within lone star ticks was an order of magnitude greater than that for @entity235 ticks. We conclude that lone star ticks may be epidemiologically significant vectors of @entity15798 and of spotted @entity221 group rickettsiae.
