Worldwide Presence and Features of Flea-BorneRickettsia asembonensis
- PMID:30687724
- PMCID: PMC6338025
- DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00334
Worldwide Presence and Features of Flea-BorneRickettsia asembonensis
Abstract
Rickettsia asembonensis, the most well-characterized rickettsia of theRickettsia felis-like organisms (RFLO), is relatively unknown within the vector-borne diseases research community. The agent was initially identified in peri-domestic fleas from Asembo, Kenya in an area in whichR. felis was associated with fever patients. Local fleas collected from domestic animals and within homes were predominately infected withR. asembonensis with < 10% infected withR. felis. Since the identification ofR. asembonensis in Kenya, it has been reported in other locations within Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and South America. With the description ofR. asembonensis-like genotypes across the globe, a need exists to isolate theseR. asembonensis genotypes in cell culture, conduct microscopic, and biological analysis, as well as whole genome sequencing to ascertain whether they are the same species. Additionally, interest has been building on the potential ofR. asembonensis in infecting vertebrate hosts including humans, non-human primates, dogs, and other animals. The current knowledge of the presence, prevalence, and distribution ofR. asembonensis worldwide, as well as its arthropod hosts and potential as a pathogen are discussed in this manuscript.
Keywords: Rickettsia; Rickettsia asembonensis; Rickettsia felis-like organisms; arthropod hosts; flea-borne; worldwide distribution.
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