THEMIS and infection: In our previous study, we detected antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae in 35% of febrile patients from different localities, particularly urban and suburban communities, where cattle-rearing is rarely practiced and the prevalence of A. variegatum is low.4 Although the persons examined in that study were a biased group (febrile patients), the results suggest that a vector other than A. variegatum could also be transmitting infections in the urban and suburban areas where A. variegatum prevalence is low.