Rickettsia felis, an Emerging Flea-Borne Rickettsiosis

Brown, Lawrence Parmly; Macaluso, Kevin R.

doi:10.1007/s40475-016-0070-6

Cited by 149 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 153 publications

(120 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

109

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…While distributed worldwide, R. felis infection is increasingly reported in Africa, where prevalence rates of 3–15% in acute fever episodes suggest an emerging importance as a cause of febrile illness [2–5]. The obligate intracellular pathogen R. felis belongs to the transitional group of rickettsiae, as it shares phenotypic characteristics with members of the spotted fever group (SFG) and the typhus group (TG) [2]. Rickettsiae cause endothelial cell (EC) infection which can lead to vasculitis and bacterial dissemination [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana

Rauch

Sothmann

Aldrich

et al. 2018

Med Microbiol Immunol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The intracellular pathogen Rickettsia felis causes flea-borne spotted fever and is increasingly recognized as an emerging cause of febrile illness in Africa, where co-infection with Plasmodium falciparum is common. Rickettsiae invade endothelial cells. Little is known, however, about the early immune responses to infection. In this study, we characterize for the first time the cytokine profile in the acute phase of illness caused by R. felis infection, as well as in plasmodial co-infection, using serum from 23 febrile children < 15 years of age and 20 age-matched healthy controls from Ghana. Levels of IL-8 (interleukin-8), IP-10 (interferon-γ-induced protein-10), MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) were significantly elevated in R. felis mono-infection; however, IL-8 and VEGF elevation was not observed in plasmodial co-infections. These results have important implications in understanding the early immune responses to R. felis and suggest a complex interplay in co-infections.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana

Rauch

Sothmann

Aldrich

et al. 2018

Med Microbiol Immunol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…felis has been associated with febrile infections and symptoms similar to murine typhus, and was implicated as the causative agent of vesicular fever ("yaaf"). 5,6,11,12 It occurs worldwide, but data on its distribution in Africa are limited. Here, we report the first detection of R. felis in Ghana with 1.5% of febrile pediatric patients being infected.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,12,14,15 The detection of R. felis in afebrile individuals has furthermore led to the hypothesis that humans could be a natural reservoir of R. felis. 3,4,12,16 However, as R. felis DNA has also been detected on the skin of healthy Senegalese villagers and in the feces of several arthropod vectors such as Ctenocephalides felis or Liposcelis bostrychophila, it is still unclear to which extent these findings may be influenced by skin contamination. 5,12,17 In conclusion, our study is the first report on the detection of R. felis in febrile children in Ghana, and thus adds to the growing evidence for a widespread occurrence of R. felis in SSA.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3,4,12,16 However, as R. felis DNA has also been detected on the skin of healthy Senegalese villagers and in the feces of several arthropod vectors such as Ctenocephalides felis or Liposcelis bostrychophila, it is still unclear to which extent these findings may be influenced by skin contamination. 5,12,17 In conclusion, our study is the first report on the detection of R. felis in febrile children in Ghana, and thus adds to the growing evidence for a widespread occurrence of R. felis in SSA. To better understand the pathogenesis of R. felis infections, future studies should longitudinally monitor the presence of R. felis DNA and specific antibodies following infection, and use control groups to determine the clinical significance of R. felis, both in the absence and presence of malaria coinfection as well as in asymptomatic patients.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Rickettsia felis Infection in Febrile Children, Ghana

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Rickettsial infections are an underrecognized cause of febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa. To evaluate the epidemiology and clinical features of rickettsial disease in pediatric patients in Ghana, we screened blood samples from febrile children aged less than 15 years presenting to an outpatient department in Ghana's Ashanti Region for the presence of rickettsial DNA. We detected Rickettsia felis in 7/470 (1.5%) blood samples, using two independent real-time polymerase chain reactions. No other Rickettsia species were found. R. felis was detected repeatedly in one patient, and coinfection with Plasmodium falciparum was found in 3/7 samples. Symptoms apart from fever included cough (6/7) and vomiting (4/7). None of the R. felis-positive patients reported a rash. This study is the first report on R. felis in Ghana and adds to the growing evidence for its widespread occurrence with and without malaria coinfection in sub-Saharan Africa.

show abstract

“…Rickettsia felis has been detected infecting Ctenocephalides spp. world widely and it is presently recognized as a causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever (Brown and Macaluso 2016), however, the global scarcity of R. felis clinical cases deserves further attention of its real pathogenicity to humans.…”

Section: Molecular Detection Of a Platys And E Canis In Dogs Hasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. in ectoparasites collected from domestic animals, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Silva

Blanco

Ogrzewalska

et al. 2017

VR&R

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of emerging arthropod-borne pathogens Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) collected from dogs and horses within municipality of Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro State, Southern Brazil. Samples from 280 ticks and two fleas were subjected to family or/and genus specific PCR for Anaplasmataceae, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia, followed by DNA sequencing to ensure pathogen identity. In ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus collected from dogs the DNAof Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis was detected in 6.8% and 2.2% samples respectively. In two R. sanguineus confection with two pathogens was observed. In Dermacentor nitens ticks, collected from horses Francisella-like endosymbiont was found in 42.8% samples. DNA of Rickettsia felis and Wolbachia pipetens was detected in fleas Ctenocephalides canis fleas. No DNA of Rickettsia was found in tested ticks. The findings contribute to our knowledge of tick-borne bacteria, ticks and endosymbionts distribution in Brazil.

show abstract

Rickettsia felis, an Emerging Flea-Borne Rickettsiosis

Cited by 149 publications

References 153 publications

Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana

Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana

Rickettsia felis Infection in Febrile Children, Ghana

Investigation of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. in ectoparasites collected from domestic animals, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About