Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40405314›Full record

ReviewInfectious diseases of poverty2025

Geospatial and modelling analyses reveal diverse tick and tick-associated microbes in the East African Community.

Abakundana Nsenga Ariston Gabriel, Xiao-Yang Wang, Guo-Yao Zu, Pei-Yu Zhen, Laila Jamil, Shi-Jing Shen, Cheng Li, Ntakirutimana Theoneste, Lin Zhao, Wu-Chun Cao

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Infectious diseases of poverty, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Climate-Driven Distribution and Ecological Niche Modeling of ThreeTropical medicine and infectious disease · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Abakundana Nsenga Ariston Gabriel *Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Xiao-Yang Wang *Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Guo-Yao Zu *Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Pei-Yu ZhenInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Laila JamilInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Shi-Jing ShenInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Cheng LiInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Ntakirutimana TheonesteSchool of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Lin ZhaoInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China. zhaolin1989@sdu.edu.cn.
Wu-Chun CaoInstitute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China. caowuchun@126.com.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2024YFC2310405Natural Science Foundation of China 82103897Science and Technology Support Plan for Youth Innovation of Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province of China 2022KJ016Young Talent of Lifting engineering for Science and Technology in Shandong, China SDAST2024QTA079
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe continuous geographic expansion of ticks and the emergence of tick-borne diseases have raised tremendous global public health concerns, particularly in the East African Community (EAC). This study aimed to investigate the distribution of ticks and tick-associated microbes and to predict the potential extension of dominant tick species in the EAC.

methodsData were collected from literature reviews and related websites and analyzed using ArcGIS to generate maps showing the geographical distribution of ticks and associated microbes. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the positive rates of microbes. Ecological niche modelling was used to project the potential expansion of predominant tick species.

resultsA total of 138 tick species were recorded in the seven EAC countries, including five genera of the Argasidae family, eight of the Ixodidae family, and monospecific Nuttalliellidae. Overall, 64 tick-associated microbes, including 22 viruses, 26 bacteria, and 16 protists, were identified, of which 43 (11 viruses, 21 bacteria, and 11 protists) were pathogenic to humans or animals. Among them, 5 (2 viruses and 3 bacteria) have been reported in humans, while 10 pathogens (1 virus, 4 bacteria, and 5 protists) have been reported in animals. The predictive model identified suitable habitats for four dominant tick species, with certain species flourishing under ideal conditions, such as elevation, temperature, and vegetation. Our study revealed that ticks might affect broader areas where they have never been previously reported.

conclusionsTicks are widely prevalent in the EAC, and some ticks harbor a variety of microbial agents that can have significant pathogenetic implications for human and animal health. Therefore, EAC authorities and medical personnel should acknowledge the potential threat posed by ticks and tick-associated pathogens to the well-being of people and animals. Surveillance and etiological diagnosis should be enhanced to control ticks and prevent tick-borne infections.

Indexed as

Tick-Borne DiseasesTicksAfrica, EasternAnimalsBacteriaEcosystemVirusesEast African CommunityEcological niche modelGeographical distributionTickTick-associated microbes

Identifiers

PMID40405314
PMCPMC12096497

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.