Tick-borne rickettsiales: molecular tools for the study of an emergent group of pathogens

GUILLEMI ELIANA; TOMASSONE LAURA; FARBER MARISA

JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 p. 87 - 97

0167-7012

The use of molecular techniques in recentyears has enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of Rickettsiales, a bacterial order which includessignificant emerging and re-emerging pathogens of humans and animals. Molecular detection enablesthe accurate identification at the species level, providing additionalinformation on the epidemiology and course of the clinical cases. Moreover, PCRand enzyme restriction analysis of the vector blood meal can be employed tostudy the tick feeding source and possiblyidentify pathogen`s reservoir. Here, we review the molecular tools availablefor the identification and characterization of tick-borne bacteria from the generaRickettsia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma and for the study of ticks feeding behaviour. We summarize thesignificant criteria for taxonomic identification of Rickettsiales species and propose a procedure algorithm for the classification of bacterial isolates asmembers of this order.