title: Rickettsia felis, an Emerging Flea-Borne Rickettsiosis.
abstract: Rickettsia felisis an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen and the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever. First described as a human pathogen from the USA in 1991,R. felisis now identified throughout the world and considered a common cause of fever in Africa. The cosmopolitan distribution of this pathogen is credited to the equally widespread occurrence of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), the primary vector and reservoir ofR. felis. AlthoughR. felisis a relatively new member of the pathogenicRickettsia, limited knowledge of basicR. felisbiology continues to hinder research progression of this unique bacterium. This is a comprehensive review examining what is known and unknown relative toR. felistransmission biology, epidemiology of the disease, and genetics, with an insight into areas of needed investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, SVM-3213, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA.
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, SVM-3213, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Macaluso
keywords: Epidemiology; Flea-borne spotted fever; Genetic diversity; Rickettsia felis; Transmission biology