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Volume 29, Number 2—February 2023
Dispatch

Molecular Detection of Candidatus Orientia chuto in Wildlife, Saudi Arabia

Hadil A. Alkathiry, Samia Q. Alghamdi, Holly E.J. Morgan, Madeleine E. Noll, Jing J. Khoo, Abdulaziz N. Alagaili, and Benjamin L. MakepeaceComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saudi Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (H.A. Alkathiry); University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK (H.A. Alkathiry, H.E.J. Morgan, M.E. Noll, J.J. Khoo, B.L. Makepeace); Al-Bahah University, Al-Bahah, Saudi Arabia (S.Q. Alghamdi); King Saud University, Riyadh (A.N. Alagaili)

Main Article

Figure 1

Sampling sites and elevation from which rodents were collected for molecular detection of Candidatus Orientia chuto in wildlife, Saudi Arabia. A) Study region on the Arabian Peninsula, including Dubai (yellow triangle), where a clinical case of scrub typhus caused by Candidatus O. chuto was reported in a previous study (5). Light gray area indicates Saudi Arabia; dark gray area indicates bordering countries on the Arabian Peninsula. Rodents were trapped in the Hijaz Mountains and surrounding towns of Al-Bahah Province (yellow circle indicates Al-Bahah, the capital city) and in the Asir Mountains of Asir Province (yellow square indicates Abha, the capital city). B, C) Heat maps detailing elevation above sea level of trapping locations in Al-Bahah Province (B) and Asir Province (C). Red crosses and sample labels indicate where Orientia-positive rodents were found; white crosses indicate areas in which rodents showed no evidence of infection. UAE, United Arab Emirates.

Figure 1. Sampling sites and elevation from which rodents were collected for molecular detection of Candidatus Orientia chuto in wildlife, Saudi Arabia. A) Study region on the Arabian Peninsula, including Dubai (yellow triangle), where a clinical case of scrub typhus caused by Candidatus O. chuto was reported in a previous study (5). Light gray area indicates Saudi Arabia; dark gray area indicates bordering countries on the Arabian Peninsula. Rodents were trapped in the Hijaz Mountains and surrounding towns of Al-Bahah Province (yellow circle indicates Al-Bahah, the capital city) and in the Asir Mountains of Asir Province (yellow square indicates Abha, the capital city). B, C) Heat maps detailing elevation above sea level of trapping locations in Al-Bahah Province (B) and Asir Province (C). Red crosses and sample labels indicate where Orientia-positive rodents were found; white crosses indicate areas in which rodents showed no evidence of infection. UAE, United Arab Emirates.

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