Fuentes L
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1986 Jan;35(1):192-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1986.35.192.
Since Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) was recognized in Costa Rica, ecological studies have been undertaken to discern its distribution and the natural cycle of Rickettsia rickettsii. The population of ticks parasitizing animals and vegetation was scarce. Rickettsiae were not isolated from pools of ticks nor from spleens of the animals studied. However, the active circulation of rickettsiae was evidenced through the demonstration of spotted fever group antibodies in humans, dogs, and wild rabbits. These findings concur with those in a number of fatal human cases as well as with the isolation of R. rickettsii from wild rabbit ticks.
自从在哥斯达黎加发现落基山斑疹热（RMSF）以来，人们开展了生态学研究，以了解其分布情况以及立氏立克次体的自然循环。寄生于动物和植被上的蜱虫数量稀少。在所研究的蜱虫样本以及动物脾脏中均未分离出立克次体。然而，通过在人类、狗和野兔体内检测到斑疹热群抗体，证明了立克次体的活跃传播。这些发现与一些人类死亡病例的情况以及从野兔蜱虫中分离出立氏立克次体的结果一致。
