Table 1 Details regarding target species, amplified DNA fragment, positive control used in PCR and references

Rickettsia spp.

gltA

for: ATAGGACAACCGTTTATTT;

rev: CAAACATCATATGCAGAAA;

probe: FAM-CCTGATAATTCGTTAGATTTTACCG-TMR

DNA extract from positive cell culture of R. monacensis (own isolate)

[20]

Anaplasma spp.; Ehrlichia spp.; “Ca. N. mikurensis”

16S rRNA

for: GGGGATGATGTCAARTCAGCAY;

rev: CACCAGCTTCGAGTTAAGCCAAT

DNA-extract from an A. phagocytophilum-positive I. ricinus

[22]

Bartonella spp.

ssrA

for: CTATGGTAATAAATGGACAATGAAATAA;

rev: GCTTCTGTTGCCAGGTG

DNA-extract from B. grahamii- positive rodent blood

[24]

Francisella spp.

tul4

for: ATTACAATGGCAGGCTCCAGA;

rev: TGCCCAAGTTTTATCGTTCTTCT;

probe: FAM-TTCTAAGTGCCATGATACAAGCTTCCCAATTACTAAG-BBQ

Francisella tularensis holarctica Live Vaccine Strain (LVS = ATCC 29684

[25]

Coxiella spp.

IS111, icd, com1

IS1-for: CB_A2k: TCACATTGCCGCGTTTACT;

IS1-rev: CBA_2k: TCACATTGCCGCGTTTACT;

IS1-probe: Red640-TAATCACCAATCGCTTCGTCCCGGT; icdtrg_f: CGGAGTTAACCGGAGTATCCA;

icdtrg_r: CCGTGAATTTCATGATGTTACCTTT;

comtrg_f: CCCTGCAATTGGAACGAAG;

comtrg_r: GTTCTGATAATTGGCCGTCGACA

DNA extract from cell cultured reference strain NineMile RSA 493

[26, 27]