Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42437957›Full record

ArticleInfectious diseases of poverty2026

Rickettsia massiliae and its public health significance across Palearctic and Oriental regions: a scoping review.

Muhammad Kashif Obaid, Cai Yuchun, Shehla Shehla, Jin Luo, Takele Adugna Kassegn, Anwar Zaib Khan, Muhammad Rashid, Qiaoyun Ren, Guiquan Guan

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious diseases of poverty, 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

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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

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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

9 authors.

Muhammad Kashif ObaidState Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. kashifobaidkanz@gmail.com.
Cai YuchunNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Shehla ShehlaDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Jin LuoState Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Takele Adugna KassegnState Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Anwar Zaib KhanState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
Muhammad RashidDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
Qiaoyun RenState Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. ren_qiaoyun@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5407-1811
Guiquan GuanState Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. guanguiquan@caas.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 32373037
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundArthropod including ticks, fleas, and lice have been found to be infected with Rickettsia massiliae, a pathogenic member of spotted fever group, causing rickettsiosis. This comprehensive scoping review summarize the known facts about its transmission, diagnostic-methods, phylogenetic position, human-case-reports, preventive-measures, and distribution in Palearctic and Oriental regions.

methodsThree main steps were followed to compile this study: explanation of objective(s), identification of relevant literature, and retrieval of data determined by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Various databases, including Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were screened for relevant literature. Our objectives were to collect data regarding transmission method(s) of R. massiliae, identification-assay(s), phylogenetic position, clinical-reports globally, and distribution via possible vectors & host animals surviving in Palearctic and Oriental regions. Descriptive analysis has been conducted to plot the frequency graphs of reported numbers in different countries and hosts.

resultsFindings presented that R. massiliae have been found across Palearctic and Oriental regions in 5 tick genera (Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, Amblyomma, and Dermacentor), 1 of louse (Haematopinus), 1 of sheep ked (Melophagus), and 1 of flea (Archaeopsylla), although their role as a vector(s) is still unknown. Dogs, sheep, cattle, and goats were recorded as epidemiologically important host animals for infected arthropods in 30, 23, 17, and 16 different studies, highlighting their role in its possible transmission. Additionally, Rh. sanguineus sensu lato (s.l) and Rh. turanicus were reported to infest the aforementioned animals, which is also being recognized as potential vector for its transmission. Highest number of R. massiliae reports (10) from different animals and vectors were recorded in China. Italy was recorded with highest (3) clinical cases of humans to-date. Moreover, transmission methods like transovarial via Rh. turanicus and horizontal/artificial-feeding via Rh. sanguineus s.l. and various diagnostic methods for R. massiliae have been documented.

conclusionsR. massiliae has been widely documented throughout Palearctic and Oriental regions, with human cases reported in about six countries. Rh. sanguineus and Rh. turanicus stands out the potential vectors, while further investigation into the implications of diverse range of arthropods in epidemiology of this bacterium.

Indexed as

Public HealthRickettsiaRickettsia InfectionsAnimalsDogsHumansPhylogenyTicksHuman casePalearctic and Oriental regionsPreventive measureRickettsia massiliaeSpotted fever group

Identifiers

PMID42437957
PMCPMC13360860

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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.