First records of tick-borne pathogens, Borrelia, and spotted fever group rickettsiae in Okinawajima Island, Japan

Abstract

In early April 2000, tick-borne pathogens were surveyed in the northern area of Okinawajima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, which is the southernmost area of Japan. Borrelia valaisiana, a Lyme disease spirochete, was isolated from a field mouse Mus calori, and unidentified rickettsiae of the spotted fever group were isolated from all stages of Amblyomma testudinarium. These are the first reports of these pathogens on Okinawajima Island.