Rickettsia africae: identifying gaps in the current knowledge on vector-pathogen-host interactions

Estere Mazhetese; Vlademiro Magaia; Elisa Taviani; Luis Neves; Darshana Morar-Leather

doi:10.3855/jidc.13291

Rickettsia africae: identifying gaps in the current knowledge on vector-pathogen-host interactions

Authors

Estere Mazhetese Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
Vlademiro Magaia Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
Elisa Taviani Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
Luis Neves Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
Darshana Morar-Leather Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13291

Keywords:

African tick bite fever, Amblyomma habraeum, Rickettsia africae

Abstract

Rickettsia africae is a bacterium of zoonotic importance, which causes African tick bite fever (ATBF) in humans. This pathogen is transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, with Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma variegatum being the major vectors. Tick species other than the above-mentioned have also been reported to carry R. africae DNA. There is scarcity of information on the epidemiology of this pathogen, yet several cases have been recorded in foreign travellers who visited endemic areas, especially southern Africa. The disease has rarely been described in people from endemic regions. The aim of this study was to discuss the information that is currently available on the epidemiology of R. africae, highlighting the gaps in this field. Furthermore, ATBF cases, clinical signs and the locations where the cases occurred are also listed in this review.

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Published

2021-08-31

How to Cite

Mazhetese E, Magaia V, Taviani E, Neves L, Morar-Leather D (2021) Rickettsia africae: identifying gaps in the current knowledge on vector-pathogen-host interactions. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1039–1047. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13291

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Issue

Vol. 15 No. 08: August 2021

Section

Reviews

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