GENOTYPIC EVALUATION OF RICKETTSIAL ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM VARIOUS SPECIES OF TICKS IN PORTUGAL

Twelve rickettsial isolates, from Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanic us, Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma marginatus, were subjected to genotypic analysis. Amplification of specific DNA sequences, restricti on endonuclease digestion of amplified DNA products, and gel electroph oresis were used to identify specific DNA fragment-banding patterns. F ive patterns were resolved. Four were homologous with those of previou sly described rickettsial genotypes, R. conorii, R. slovaca, R. rhipic ephali and R. massiliae. The fifth pattern differed by only a single a ltered restriction endonuclease cleavage site. For the first time in P ortugal a widely distributed spectrum of spotted fever group rickettsi a was found among potential vector species stressing the need to deter mine their potential for human and domestic animals infection.