First isolation of Rickettsia amblyommatis from Amblyomma mixtum in Colombia.

Background: Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are the causative agent of rickettsioses and are spread to vertebrate hosts by arthropods. There are no previous reports of isolation of Rickettsia amblyommatis for Colombia.

Methods: A convenience sampling was executed in three departments in Colombia for direct collection of adult ticks on domestic animals or over vegetation.

Presence of two species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and probable zones of sympatry in northwestern Colombia.

The A. cajennense tick complex has been thought to be the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central and South America. Studies in Colombia have determined the presence of species A.

Human Rickettsiosis Caused by Rickettsia parkeri Strain Atlantic Rainforest, Urabá, Colombia.

We describe the clinical, serologic, and molecular findings of a new human rickettsiosis in Colombia. Antibodies against Rickettsia spp. were detected.

Infection by in Fleas from North of Colombia.

Background: is an emergent Rickettsial agent whose main vector is , but ticks, mites and lice are also infected. We aimed to search for molecular evidence of spp. in fleas collected from dogs and wild rodents (Heteromys anomalous) from three villages of Córdoba and Antioquia provinces (Northern of Colombia), where outbreaks of rickettsioses have occurred, and discuss the possible role of fleas on endemic/enzootic regions for rickettsia.

A Cluster of Cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in an Area Of Colombia Not Known to be Endemic for This Disease.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) has been reported in Colombia since 1937. Most recent outbreaks were in 2006-2008, followed by the absence of recognized cases. This report describes new clinical cases of RMSF and epidemiologic investigations.

Potential models of the geographic and climatic distribution of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae), a potential vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Colombia.

Introduction: The species of the Amblyoma cajennense complex, potential vectors involved in the transmission of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central and South America, have a wide geographical distribution in the Neotropics. In Colombia, the knowledge about these species, their distribution, and many aspects of their ecology is still limited. Objective: To explore the ecology of A.

Wild and domestic animals likely involved in rickettsial endemic zones of Northwestern Colombia.

Between 2006 and 2008, three outbreaks of human rickettsiosis occurred in Northwestern Colombia (municipalities of Necoclí, Los Córdobas and Turbo), with case fatality rates between 27% and 54%. The aim of this study was to determine previous exposure of wild and domestic animals to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae through serological tests, to detect rickettsial evidence in their ectoparasites, and to analyze their possible role in the epidemiology of rickettsial diseases in this zone of the country. A cross-sectional association study was performed from 2010 to 2011.

Human prevalence of the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in endemic zones of Northwestern Colombia.

In February 2006, an outbreak of human rickettsiosis occurred in the municipality of Necoclí Colombia, with 35% of lethality. This episode was, followed by two more, one in the municipality of Los Cordobas in 2007 with a 54% of lethality and the other one in the municipality of Turbo in 2008 with 27% of lethality. The aim of this study was to perform serological tests in healthy persons to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae and develop a survey to study some infection risk-related factors.