title: Investigation of Rickettsia, Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella in ticks from animals in South Africa.
abstract: Ticks are involved in the epidemiology of several human pathogens including spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella spp. Human diseases caused by these microorganisms have been reported from South Africa. The presence of SFG Rickettsia spp., C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. was investigated in 205 ticks collected from domestic and wild animals from Western Cape and Limpopo provinces (South Africa). Rickettsia massiliae was detected in 10 Amblyomma sylvaticum and 1 Rhipicephalus simus whereas Rickettsia africae was amplified in 7 Amblyomma hebraeum. Neither C. burnetii nor Bartonella spp. was found in the examined ticks. This study demonstrates the presence of the tick borne pathogen R. massiliae in South Africa (Western Cape and Limpopo provinces), and corroborates the presence of the African tick-bite fever agent (R. africae) in this country (Limpopo province).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halajian
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Palomar
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain.
authors.forename: Aránzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.affiliation: Parasites, Vectors & Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
authors.forename: Heloise
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heyne
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wilmien J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Luus-Powell
authors.affiliation: Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address: jaoteo@riojasalud.es.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oteo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000382:microbiology; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Bartonella spp.; Coxiella burnetii; Rickettsia spp.; South Africa; Ticks; Vector-borne