Detection of Species, and -Like and -Like Endosymbionts in and from a Shared Field Site in Georgia, United States of America.

Two abundant species of aggressive ticks commonly feed on humans in Georgia: the Gulf Coast tick () and the Lone Star tick (). is the primary host of , " Rickettsia andeanae," and a -like endosymbiont (AmacFLE), whereas is the primary host for , , , and a -like endosymbiont (AamCLE). Horizontal transmission of from to by co-feeding has been described, and has been found infrequently in ticks. We assessed the prevalence of these agents and whether exchange of tick-associated bacteria is common between and collected from the same field site. Unengorged ticks were collected May-August 2014 in west-central Georgia from a 4.14 acre site by flagging and from humans and canines traversing that site. All DNA samples were screened with quantitative PCR assays for the bacteria found in both ticks, and the species of any detected was identified by species-specific TaqMan assays or sequencing of the rickettsial A gene. Only (15) and AamCLE (39) were detected in 40 , while the 74 only contained (30), " Rickettsia andeanae" (3), and AmacFLE (74). Neither tick species had either species. Consequently, we obtained no evidence for the frequent exchange of these tick-borne agents in a natural setting despite high levels of carriage of each agent and the common observance of infestation of both ticks on both dogs and humans at this site. Based on these data, exchange of these , , and agents between and appears to be an infrequent event.