Pj. Richter et al., IXODES PACIFICUS (ACARI, IXODIDAE) AS A VECTOR OF EHRLICHIA-EQUI (RICKETTSIALES, EHRLICHIEAE), Journal of medical entomology, 33(1), 1996, pp. 1-5
Ehrlichia equi, a rickettsia described from horses in California 30 yr
ago, causes equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis throughout the Americas
and possibly Europe. Here, we report experimental transmission of E. e
qui from infected to susceptible horses through bites of western black
legged ticks, Ixodes pacificus (Cooley & Kohls). In preliminary field
studies, only I. pacificus consistently infested horses and vegetation
at 3 locations with contemporary cases of equine ehrlichosis, and in
particular, I. pacificus was the only species found attached to all of
the infected horses. Exposure to bites of ticks in the genus Ixodes p
oses previously unrecognized and serious health risks to humans and an
imals.