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Volume 32, Number 1—January 2026

Dispatch

Dermacentor occidentalis Ticks and Link to Rickettsia lanei Infections, California, USA

Will S. ProbertComments to Author , Chantha Kath, Naomi Putirka, Megan E.M. Saunders, Brenda Bermudez, Matthew I. Cazas, Alex Espinosa, Hannah Romo, and Jill K. Hacker
Author affiliation: Author affiliations: California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA (W.S. Probert, C. Kath, M.E.M Saunders, B. Bermudez, M.I. Cazas, A. Espinosa, H. Romo, J.K. Hacker); San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA (N. Putirka)

Main Article

Figure

Heat maps displaying the number of Dermacentor occidentalis (A) and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (B) ticks tested for spotted fever group Rickettsia in 2024, by county, in study of D. occidentalis ticks and link to Rickettsia lanei infections, California, USA. Color scale represents number of ticks. Black star represents the location of ticks testing positive by PCR for R. lanei: 1 D. occidentalis tick in Contra Costa County (A) and 2 H. leporispalustris ticks in San Mateo County (B). Gray shading indicates counties in which tick collection was not attempted or the tick species was not found.

Figure. Heat maps displaying the number of Dermacentor occidentalis (A) and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (B) ticks tested for spotted fever group Rickettsia in 2024, by county, in study of D. occidentalis ticks and link to Rickettsia lanei infections, California, USA. Color scale represents number of ticks. Black star represents the location of ticks testing positive by PCR for R. lanei: 1 D. occidentalis tick in Contra Costa County (A) and 2 H. leporispalustris ticks in San Mateo County (B). Gray shading indicates counties in which tick collection was not attempted or the tick species was not found.

Main Article

Page created: December 13, 2025
Page updated: January 29, 2026
Page reviewed: January 29, 2026
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