Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from dogs from the Department of Piura, Peru

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of ticks positive for genus Rickettsia bacteria among ticks collected from domestic dogs in the Department of Piura, Peru, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Ticks were collected from dogs in urban areas of the metropolitan region of Piura, Peru. Only three species of ticks were identified; 977 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (180 nymphs, 417 females, and 380 males), Six Amblyomma triste females, and one Amblyomma tigrinum male. After classifying the specimens morphologically by stage, species, and sex, their total DNA was tested by PCR using primers that amplify fragments of the gltA, ompA, ompB, and htrA genes. The resulting positive sample was sequenced, compared to the GenBank database, and analyzed phylogenetically. The Rickettsia spp. infection rate in the tick pools was 0.2% (1/484); the positive specimen was an R. sanguineus tick. GenBank analysis of the positive sequence revealed 100% identify with Rickettsia felis; however, no products of the htrA, ompA and ompB genes were amplified from this sample. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. felis in R. sanguineus in Peru.