Previous studies have documented the presence of rickettsiae in mosquitoes using species-specific qPCR assays and/or by PCR and sequencing of one or more of the following gene fragments; rrs, gltA, ompA, ompB, sca4, and groEL. A high rate of infection was reported in a recent study, where 21% of 53 Cx. This evidence concerns the gene HSPD1 and infection.