Figure 1.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the vector and potential reservoir of Mediterranean spotted fever caused by Rickettsia conorii.
A mm scale is at the top of this image.
Figure 2.
Study of the vertical transmission of Rickettsia conorii conorii in naturally infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks.
PCR, polymerase chain reaction. TS, transstadial transmission (transfer of bacteria from stage to stage). TOT, transovarial transmission, the proportion of infected females giving rise to at least one positive egg or larva. FIR, the filial infection rate, the proportion of infected eggs or larvae obtained from an infected female. M: male. F: female.
Figure 3.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus salivary glands and detection of Rickettsia conorii conorii.
Salivary glands of a Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii conorii (left). Gimenez staining: smears of infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus salivary glands (right).
Figure 4.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus ovary and detection of Rickettsia conorii conorii.
Ovaries of a Rickettsia conorii conorii-infected engorged Rhipicephalus sanguine; scale bar: 2 µm (top left). Gimenez staining, smears of infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus ovaries (top right). An electron photomicrograph of ovarian tissue from a Rickettsia conorii conorii-infected engorged female Rhipicephalus sanguineus (bottom left and right). Red flash, Rickettsia conorii conorii surrounded by electron-lucent halos. Scale bar: 0.1 µm.
Figure 5.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus eggs and detection of Rickettsia conorii conorii.
The eggs of a Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii conorii(left). Gimenez staining, the crushed eggs of a Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii conorii (right).
Figure 6.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks during blood feeding on rabbits.
Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii conorii during blood feeding on a New Zealand white rabbit, feces circled (left). Inflammation around a bite site of a female Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with R. conorii conorii during feeding (right).
Table 1.
The effect of temperature on R. conorii conorii-infected and non-infected engorged Rhipicephalus sanguine nymphs.
Table 2.
The effect of temperature on R. conorii conorii-infected and non-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus adults.