Ehrlichia chaffeensis Infection in Rodent Ticks－Kinmen, 2009

Ming Hui Weng, Jih Ching Lien, Hui Ping Tsai, Pey Ru Lin,Ming Der Guo, Wen Tsang Liu

2010 Vol.26 NO.9

Correspondence Author： Ming Hui Weng

Abstract：

Abstract

Samples used in this study were collected between September 28 -30, 2009 on Kinmen island. 110 ticks at larva or nymphs stages, including Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis sp., and I. granulatus were gathered from 26 small rodents including moles. The ticks were separated into 29 pools according to their species and hosts. The DNA from ticks was extracted, amplified by nested PCR, and compared with 16s ribosomal RNA genes. The results showed that 2 pools of the samples (KM29-35T and KM29-40T) had 99% and 100% homology to Ehrlichia chaffeensis. The two pools were from nymphs of R. haemaphysaloides and I. granulatus found on two Rattus losea exiguus captured around Sango Folk Village. The minimum infection rate (MIR) of E. chaffeensis in Kinmen was 1.8% (2/110) and in Sango Folk Village was 11.1% (2/18).