Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42324132›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of veterinary medical science2026

Molecular diversity of tick-associated Rickettsia species in multiple provinces of Zambia.

Yongjin Qiu, Martin C Simuunza, Masahiro Kajihara, Joseph Ndebe, Yoshiki Eto, Akina Mori-Kajihara, Edgar Simulundu, Walter Muleya, Hayato Harima, Katendi Changula and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of veterinary medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

20 authors.

Yongjin QiuLaboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Martin C SimuunzaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Masahiro KajiharaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Joseph NdebeDivision of International Research Promotion, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Yoshiki EtoDivision of Global Epidemiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Akina Mori-KajiharaDivision of Global Epidemiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Edgar SimulunduZambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.
Walter MuleyaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Hayato HarimaLaboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
Katendi ChangulaDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Ngonda SaasaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Penjaninge KapilaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Ladslav MoongaDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Evans MulengaDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Andrew Nalishuwa MukubesaSchool of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Bernard Mudenda Hang'ombeDepartment of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Ayato TakadaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Nariaki NonakaLaboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Hirofumi SawaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Ryo NakaoLaboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ticks harbor diverse Rickettsia spp., including several spotted fever group rickettsiae of veterinary and public health importance. However, information on tick-associated Rickettsia spp. in Zambia remains geographically limited. In this retrospective molecular survey, we examined 1,587 individual ticks collected from vegetation and domestic animals in eight provinces of Zambia during 2016-2018. Ticks were identified morphologically and screened for Rickettsia spp. by PCR targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA). Representative gltA positive samples were further characterized by sequencing of ompA, ompB, htrA, sca4, and the 16S rRNA gene. In total, 204 ticks (12.9%) were tested positive for gltA and detected in all eight provinces examined. Sequencing of gltA revealed 26 sequence variants, of which 25 clustered within the spotted fever group and one belonged to transitional group rickettsiae. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis identified sequence variants related to recognized or putative tick-borne rickettsiae, including R. africae, R. conorii, R. massiliae, R. aeschlimannii, Candidatus R. jingxinensis, Candidatus R. rhabdomydis, and R. hoogstraalii. These findings indicate that ticks in Zambia harbor genetically diverse Rickettsia lineages and provide a geographically broad molecular baseline for future surveillance, isolation attempts, and genomic characterization of tick-borne rickettsiae in the region.

Indexed as

RickettsiaRickettsia InfectionsTicksAnimalsCitrate (si)-SynthaseGenetic VariationPhylogenyRetrospective StudiesRNA, Ribosomal, 16SZambiaCitrate (si)-SynthaseRNA, Ribosomal, 16SAmblyomma variegatumgltARickettsia africaespotted fever group rickettsiaeZambia

Identifiers

PMID42324132
PMCPMC13616601

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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.