The natural reservoir of Neorickettsia spp.

Abstract

Potomac horse fever (PHF), caused by Neorickettsia risticii and the more recently discovered N. findlayensis, can induce primarily colitis and other clinical signs in horses. The life cycle of N. risticii is complex and the full extent of potential definitive and reservoir hosts remains poorly understood.

In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on liver samples obtained from different wildlife species including bats, muskrats, raccoons, opossums, and skunks. Neorickettsia spp. DNA was identified in 4/133 (3 %) of the samples. The findings of this study suggest that Neorickettsia spp. circulate among different wildlife species, indicating a broader natural reservoir for these bacteria than previously recognized.