Rickettsia amblyommatis isolated from Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodida) from two sites in Panama.

This research documents the discovery of the bacterium Rickettsia amblyommatis in a common species of ticks in Panama and details the methods used for the isolation of the bacterium.

Overview of Rickettsia amblyommatis and its Significance

• Rickettsia amblyommatis is a microbe that is known to infect different tick species across the Americas. This microorganism is of scientific interest due to its prevalence and potential to cause disease.
• In Panama, R. amblyommatis has been identified molecularly in nine different tick species and one species of flea, making it the most common type of Rickettsia in the region.

Study on Ticks From Gamboa and El Valle de Antón

• This research focused on the Amblyomma mixtum, a type of tick that was collected from captive tapirs in the Colon province’s Gamboa region, and from horses found in the Cocle province’s El Valle de Antón region.
• The critical part of the process involved the isolation of R. amblyommatis from these ticks using the shell vial technique, a common method used to isolate and grow cells in a controlled laboratory environment.
• The process of isolating cells involves introducing them into vials containing a single layer of uninfected cells, known as Vero cells, then letting them incubate. After the incubation period, any bacteria (like R. amblyommatis) present in the tick’s cells will have infected the Vero cells.

Significance of the Study

• The study is significant because it presents the first recorded instances of R. amblyommatis isolation in Panama.
• This research expands current knowledge about the distribution and host range of R. amblyommatis, providing valuable information for disease management efforts in the region.