Rickettsia tamurae sp. nov., isolated from Amblyomma testudinarium ticks.

Rickettsia sp. strain AT-1(T) was isolated from Amblyomma testudinarium ticks in Japan in 1993. Comparative analysis of sequences obtained from 16S rRNA, gltA, ompA, ompB and sca4 gene fragments demonstrated those from AT-1(T) to be markedly different from those of other members of the spotted fever group. Using mouse serotyping, it was also observed that Rickettsia sp. strain AT-1(T) was different from other Rickettsia species with validly published names. Such genotypic and phenotypic characteristics warrant its classification as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Rickettsia tamurae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain AT-1(T) (=CSUR R1(T)).