Established Population of the Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae), Infected with Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), in Connecticut

We identified an established population of the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch) infected with Rickettsia parkeri in Connecticut, representing the northernmost range limit of this medically relevant tick species. Our finding highlights the importance of tick surveillance and public health challenges posed by geographic expansion of tick vectors and their pathogens.

Automated summary

The discovery of Rickettsia parkeri-infected Gulf Coast ticks in Connecticut, at the northern range limit of the species, emphasizes the importance of tick surveillance and the public health challenges posed by the geographic expansion of tick vectors and pathogens.