How to cite this article: Vet. Res. (2009) 40:34
DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009017

Review

The relationship between spotted fever group Rickettsiae and Ixodid ticks

Cristina Socolovschi, Oleg Mediannikov, Didier Raoult and Philippe Parola

Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (URMITE), UMR CNRS-IRD 6236, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsial diseases and other arthropod-borne bacterial diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France

Received 9 November 2008; accepted 9 April 2009; published online 10 April 2009

Abstract - Spotted fever group Rickettsiae are predominantly transmitted by ticks. Rickettsiae have developed many strategies to adapt to different environmental conditions, including those within their arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts. The tick-Rickettsiae relationship has been a point of interest for many researchers, with most studies concentrating on the role of ticks as vectors. Unfortunately, less attention has been directed towards the relationship of Rickettsiae with tick cells, tissues, and organs. This review summarizes our current understanding of the mechanisms involved in the relationship between ticks and Rickettsiae and provides an update on the recent methodological improvements that have allowed for comprehensive studies at the molecular level.

Key words: ticks / spotted fever group Rickettsiae / vector / reservoir

Corresponding author: philippe.parola@univmed.fr

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2009