Enhanced detection of Rickettsia species in Ixodes pacificus using highly sensitive fluorescence in situ hybridization coupled with Tyramide Signal Amplification.

Ixodes pacificus is a host of many bacteria including Rickettsia species phylotypes G021 and G022. As part of the overall goal of understanding interactions of phylotypes with their tick host, this study focused on molecular detection of rickettsiae in ovarian and midgut tissue of I. pacificus by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR, and ultrastructural analysis.