摘要：Background. Ticks are vectors and important reservoirs for microbial agents that causedisease in humans and animals. Among these pathogens, the members of Rickettsia speciesplay an important role in public health.Aim and methods. One hundred twenty-nine ticks belonging to four tick species (Ixodesricinus, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata)were collected at different sites of the Insugherata Natural Reserve, localized in the urbanarea of Rome, Italy. Questing ticks were tested by PCR for Rickettsia spp., amplifyingpartial gene of ompA.Results. Forty-six ticks were found to be infected with Rickettsia species. Five SFG rickettsiaewere identified: three human pathogens Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia massiliae andRickettsia aeschlimannii, and two putative new strains Rickettsia sp. strain RM1 and Rickettsiasp. strain RM2. The phylogenetic analysis of partial gene sequences of ompA, gltA,and 17-kd antigen showed that they clustered with several rickettsiae with unidentifiedpathogenicity. However, Rickettsia sp. strain RM1 and Rickettsia sp. strain RM2 clusteredin a statistically supported clade with R. massiliae, and R. monacensis, respectively.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that Rickettsia species other than R. conorii are implicatedin human disease in Italy.
