A Shocking Discovery in Maine

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently made a startling revelation in a quiet backyard in Maine: they discovered rabbit ticks harboring a new strain of Rickettsia bacteria, linked to serious human infections known as spotted fever rickettsioses (SFR). The most infamous among these is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can have a staggering death rate of 20% to 30% if not treated swiftly.

What is Project ITCH?

This groundbreaking find emerged from Project ITCH (Is Tick Control Helping), a NEWVEC initiative aimed at practicing effective tick control across New England. As part of this project, ticks collected from homeowners are tested for various pathogens, including Lyme disease-causing Borrelia burgdorferi, giving homeowners valuable insights into potential health risks.

A New Player in the Game

Microbiologist Stephen Rich, executive director of NEWVEC and co-author of the recent study published in the journal 'Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases', emphasized the novelty of the bacteria strain, Rickettsia sp. ME2023. "We now know there is something different out there that we have not encountered before," he remarked.

Understanding the Risks

While these rabbit ticks (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) rarely bite humans, Rich warns that they could link to human infections through other ticks that do feed on people. This environmental risk is something researchers are eager to investigate as they aim to understand the broader implications of this discovery.

Surprising Prevalence

Lead author Guang Xu conducted rigorous testing and DNA sequencing on rabbit ticks across nine counties in Maine, uncovering that about 6.1% tested positive for this new Rickettsia strain. "It looks like a significant number of these ticks carry this pathogen," Rich noted, pointing out that this wasn't just an isolated incident.

The Bigger Picture of SFR