Ticks are insects commonly found in several animals, from deer to bats, cattle, and of course house pets. There are a variety of tick-borne diseases, the most common ones, but not the only ones, being Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis.

In Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rican scientists discovered new bacteria of the group of the Ricckettsiae, which was named “Candidatus Rickettsia Nicoyana”; the bacteria was found on ticks that were on a bat in the area of Nicoya.

When scientists analyzed the samples they discovered there were enough differences in the genetic material to consider the discovery of a new bacteria; the name given is still not official, scientists will need to continue studying it and describing its characteristics. Some bacteria from the Rickettsiae group are known to infect humans causing serious illnesses, while others affect domestic pets like dogs and cats.

Through this investigation, scientists were also able to confirm the existence in the country of the tick Ornithodoros knoxjonesi, which was never seen in the country and that scientists thought either didn’t exist or had been confused with other species.

Now, the experts are focused on discovering whether this new bacteria could affect humans or other animals.