ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of spotted fever Rickettsiae in peripheral blood from suspected Rickettsiosis cases in Sri Lanka.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundRickettsioses are an emerging public health concern in Sri Lanka, particularly in the central hills, where the Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis is prevalent. This study aimed to molecularly detect and characterize Rickettsia species in peripheral blood from patients suspected of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis.
methodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 217 patients suspected of Rickettsiosis between January 2020 and June 2021. All samples were screened using the Rickettsia conorii immunoglobulin G (IgG) Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). DNA was extracted from IFAT-positive samples and subjected to nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 17 kDa protein gene of Spotted Fever Rickettsiae. Selected PCR-positive samples were purified, sequenced, and analyzed using nBLAST and phylogenetic analysis.
resultsOf 217 clinically suspected patients, 137 (63.1%) had antibodies reactive with R. conorii antigen. DNA extracted from 113 seropositive blood samples underwent nested PCR targeting the 17 kDa protein gene, yielding 15 (13.2%) positives. Ten amplicons were sequenced, revealing three genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed one sequence with 100% identity to R. felis, marking the first molecular detection of this species in human blood in Sri Lanka. Other sequences matched multiple Spotted Fever Rickettsia species, including R. rickettsii, R. conorii, and R. parkeri, though species-level resolution was limited due to conserved gene regions. The majority of seropositive patients were middle-aged females from rural areas.
conclusionFindings underscore the presence of diverse, potentially virulent Rickettsia species and highlight the need for enhanced molecular surveillance. This study provides critical insights into the epidemiology of rickettsioses in Sri Lanka and supports the use of molecular tools for accurate pathogen identification, crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and vector control efforts. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.