No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rican scientists find new type of bacteria

Costa Rican scientists find new type of bacteria

A group of microbiologists from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has discovered a new type of bacteria belonging to the Rickettsiae group, considered one of the most harmful to humans.

Researchers have reported the new species to the international community with the scientific name “Candidatus Rickettsia nicoyana.” The name refers to its discovery on a tick found on a bat in the Nicoya Peninsula, in the province of Guanacaste.

Adriana Troyo, a researcher with the UCR’s Center for Research on Tropical Diseases, said in a public statement that Rickettsia is a group of bacteria potentially pathogenic — deadly — to humans.

“We still don’t know whether the Candidatus Rickettsia nicoyana can make people sick, but identifying it is the first step in the process of studying it,” she said.

The UCR research center said there are currently 32 species of Rickettsiae registered in the world. Of these, 22 are dangerous for people and can cause illness and some can even be deathly. Microbiologists are now conducting tests on the newly found species at different temperatures.

One of the tests’s goals is evaluating its behavior at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 °F), the average human body temperature, to determine whether it can be deadly.

Trending Now

Costa Rican Court Orders Uber to Pay Millions in Driver Benefits

Costa Rican courts have dealt another blow to Uber, ruling that the ride-hailing company must treat drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. In...

FIFA Fines El Salvador Federation Over Racist Chants in Suriname Qualifier

FIFA has slapped the Salvadoran Football Federation with a fine and attendance cuts following racist slurs from fans aimed at Suriname players in a...

How the US Shutdown Could Disrupts Travel to Costa Rica

As the US federal government enters a partial shutdown starting today October 1, travelers heading to Costa Rica face potential hurdles. The impasse stems...

Panama Defends Canal Neutrality at UN Amid US-China Tensions

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly this week, standing firm on his country's control over the...

Tragic Blaze at Hotel Oriente Kills Five in Costa Rica Capital

A tragic fire ripped through the Hotel Oriente in central San Jose early this morning, leaving five people dead and sparking questions about building...

Costa Rica’s Fiscal Discipline Earns Higher Moody’s Rating

Costa Rica's credit rating just got a boost from Moody's, moving up to Ba2 with a stable outlook. This change points to stronger handling...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica