An electron microscopic study of Cytoecetes phagocytophila infection in Ixodes ricinus |
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Authors: | K A Webster G B Mitchell |
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Institution: | Division of Veterinary Medicine, West of Scotland College of Agriculture, Ayr. |
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Abstract: | Tick-borne fever, caused by a rickettsia-like organism, Cytoecetes phagocytophila, is transmitted by the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus. An electron microscopic technique was developed to examine I ricinus for C phagocytophila infection. Infected and uninfected ticks were obtained from a laboratory maintained tick culture. All stages of I ricinus collected from one field site were examined; 44 per cent of nymphae and 32 per cent of adults were infected with C phagocytophila, but larvae were uninfected. This supports the previously held theory of transtadial, but not transovarial transmission of tick-borne fever. |
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