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Pathogens
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New Insights into Rickettsia and Related Organisms
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New Insights into Rickettsia and Related Organisms

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 3521

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alison Luce-Fedrow

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA 7257, USA
Interests: Rickettsia; Orientia; Ehrlichia; ectoparasites; immunology
Dr. Kristin E. Mullins

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Interests: Rickettsia; Bartonella; vector borne diseases; clinical diagnostics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The causative agents of rickettsial (and related) diseases (including Rickettsia, Orientia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Coxiella) have historically plagued both civilian and military populations due to the cosmopolitan distribution of their associated vectors (ticks, fleas, mites, and lice).  Similarly, vector-transmitted microbes such as Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella are also capable of causing infections in humans/animals, which can be chronic and difficult to treat. Among the aforementioned micro-organisms, new species are consistently being described, detection is being reported beyond regions of endemicity, antibiotic-resistant strains have emerged, and the responsible vector populations have experienced shifting patterns due to environmental/climatic changes.  Moreover, the “flu-like” nature of these diseases can lead to potential delays in diagnosis/treatment, resulting in detriments to the patient.  Despite a wealth of ongoing advances geared towards better understanding these vector-borne pathogens, additional research is needed to explicitly refine the knowledge surrounding details such as host–microbe relationships, virulence mechanisms, genomics, genetic manipulation, immunological processes, vector populations/dynamics, model development, and microbe–microbe interactions.  It is the combination of these research outcomes that will ultimately boost our ongoing quest to develop superior diagnostic/therapeutic tools and will lead to the development of broadly protective vaccines.  The collaborative efforts of scientists worldwide are imperative to mitigate the global disease burden associated with these challenging microbes. 

Consequently, for this Special Issue, we invite manuscripts dedicated to all facets of research concerning Rickettsia, Orientia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Coxiella, Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella.  We look forward to your submission(s) and continuing to be part of the collaborative community of Rickettsia (and related diseases) research. 

Dr. Alison Luce-Fedrow
Dr. Kristin E. Mullins
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Rickettsia
  • Orientia
  • Ehrlichia
  • Anaplasma
  • Coxiella
  • Borrelia
  • Bartonella
  • Babesia

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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9 pages, 2179 KiB  
Article
Rickettsia asembonensis Isolated from Four Human Cases with Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Peru
by Steev Loyola, Rosa Palacios-Salvatierra, Omar Cáceres-Rey and Allen L. Richards
Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060489 - 8 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
Rickettsioses, often underreported, pose public health challenges. Rickettsia asembonensis is a potential emerging pathogen that was previously detected in humans, animals, and a variety of arthropods. While its pathogenicity in humans remains unclear, it poses a potential public health threat. Here, we present an [...] Read more.
Rickettsioses, often underreported, pose public health challenges. Rickettsia asembonensis is a potential emerging pathogen that was previously detected in humans, animals, and a variety of arthropods. While its pathogenicity in humans remains unclear, it poses a potential public health threat. Here, we present an extended epidemiological, diagnostic, and genetic analysis of the information provided in a preliminary report on the investigation of rickettsiae in Peru. In particular, we report the detection of R. asembonensis in blood specimens collected from four human patients with an acute undifferentiated fever of a seven- to nine-day duration, all of whom tested negative for other vector-borne pathogens. Additionally, we describe the replicative capacity of the R. asembonensis isolates in cell cultures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Rickettsia and Related Organisms)
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9 pages, 1917 KiB  
Case Report
Scrub Typhus and Influenza A Co-Infection: A Case Report
by Chie Yamamoto, Ayano Maruyama, Jun Munakata, Tasuku Matsuyama, Keitaro Furukawa, Ryosuke Hamashima, Motohiko Ogawa, Yuki Hashimoto, Akiko Fukuda, Tohru Inaba and Yoko Nukui
Pathogens 2025, 14(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14010064 - 13 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a neglected and reemerging disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality. It now extends beyond the Tsutsugamushi Triangle, the region wherein it has traditionally been endemic. Influenza has also resurged since the infection control measures [...] Read more.
Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a neglected and reemerging disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality. It now extends beyond the Tsutsugamushi Triangle, the region wherein it has traditionally been endemic. Influenza has also resurged since the infection control measures against COVID-19 were relaxed. A few cases of scrub typhus and influenza co-infection have been reported. Herein, we report the case of a 74-year-old woman with fever and upper respiratory symptoms diagnosed with influenza A and treated with oseltamivir; however, her fever persisted, and she developed respiratory failure, liver dysfunction, headache, diarrhea, and an erythematous skin rash. She lived in a forested area where scrub typhus was endemic and worked on a farm. Physical examination revealed an eschar on her posterior neck, and she was diagnosed with scrub typhus and influenza A co-infection. After minocycline treatment, her symptoms improved within a few days. This is the first reported case of scrub typhus and influenza A co-infection in Japan. This case illustrates that co-infection should be suspected in patients with fever persisting after their initial infection has been treated and that in patients living in endemic areas, scrub typhus can occur concurrently with influenza. The symptoms of scrub typhus are flu-like and nonspecific, which may delay diagnosis and treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Rickettsia and Related Organisms)
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