2024 article
<i>Rickettsia africae</i> infections in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic literature review of epidemiological studies and summary of case reports
Zhang, E. Y., Kalmath, P., Abernathy, H. A., Giandomenico, D. A., Nolan, M. S., Reiskind, M. H., & Boyce, R. M. (2024, May 30). TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH.
author keywords: African tick bite fever; one health; Rickettsia; surveillance; tick-borne disease; ticks
open access via onlinelibrary.wiley.com (publisher PDF)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
3. Good Health and Well-being
(Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: June 11, 2024
Rickettsia africae is a tick-borne bacteria known to cause African tick bite fever (ATBF). While the disease was first described more than 100 years ago, knowledge of transmission risk factors and disease burden remain poorly described. To better understand the burden of R. africae, this article reviewed and summarized the published literature related to ATBF epidemiology and clinical management. Using a systematic approach, consistent with the PRISMA guidelines, we identified more than 100 eligible articles, including 65 epidemiological studies and 41 case reports. Most reports described R. africae in ticks and livestock, while human studies were less common. Human disease case reports were exclusively among returning travellers from non-endemic areas, which limits our disease knowledge among at-risk populations: people living in endemic regions. Substantial efforts to elucidate the ATBF risk factors and clinical manifestations among local populations are needed to develop effective preventative strategies and facilitate appropriate and timely diagnosis.