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. 2025 Sep 26;25:1146. doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11434-z

Table 2.

Meta-analysis on the molecular prevalence of Rickettsiales detected from ectoparasites of small mammals in Africa

Pathogen Ecto. type No. of datasets No. of ecto. tested No. of ecto. +Ve Pooled prevalence (%) 95% CI (%) 95% PI (%) T2(SE) Q I2 (%)
Anaplasmacea family Alla 8 345 92 18.66 5.53–47.34 0.51–91.11 3.27 (2.60) < 0.0001 92
Anaplasmacea family Ticks 5 259 80 25.43 4.57–70.84 0.35–97.07 4.45 (4.38) < 0.01 94
Anaplasmacea family Fleas 3 86 12 9.81 0.87–57.27 0.095–92.58 4.21 (5.11) < 0.01 87
Rickettsiacea family Allb 74 5425 1194 17.65 12.41–24.48 0.79–85.18 2.77(0.74) < 0.0001 94.42
Rickettsiacea family Ticks 26 1082 214 23.25 15.32–33.65 3.57–71.25 1.08 (0.62) < 0.0001 82.33
Rickettsiacea family Fleas 43 4524 930 15.89 9.28–25.88 0.41–89.78 3.74 (1.24) < 0.0001 96.14
Rickettsiacea family Lice 5 460 44 9.69 6.04–15.19 3.92–22.02 0.18 (0.23) 0.06 55.57
Rickettsia spp. Alla 16 1198 357 19.14 9.54–34.69 0.96–85.29 2.49 (1.43) < 0.0001 95.02
Rickettsia spp. Ticks 8 490 115 27.31 14.51–45.34 4.9-73.24 0.86 (0.8) < 0.01 85.81
Rickettsia spp. Fleas 8 708 242 12.98 3.51–37.99 0.18–92.53 4.56(3.49) < 0.01 96.73
Rickettsia massiliae Alla 8 296 25 21.57 6.15–53.59 0.66–91.97 3.08 (2.75) < 0.0001 82.85
Rickettsia massiliae Ticks 7 205 24 30.55 8.96–66.29 1.14–94.37 2.86 (2.79) < 0.01 82.18
Rickettsia felis Alla 18 1252 483 20.45 8.34–42.08 0.34–95.1 4.58 (2.26) < 0.0001 95.73
Rickettsia felis Fleas 17 1241 472 21.68 8.67–44.68 0.36–95.46 4.58 (2.34) < 0.0001 95.78
Rickettsia africae Allb 14 1041 142 14.17 9.69–20.26 4.5-36.66 0.36 (0.25) < 0.0001 69.84
Rickettsia africae Ticks 6 238 63 41.53 13.53–76.33 2.22–95.68 2.49 (2.56) < 0.01 79.29
Rickettsia africae Fleas 4 389 36 10.29 6.88–15.12 5.84–17.50 0.05 (0.18) 0.28 21.9
Rickettsia africae Lice 4 414 43 10.63 6.92–15.99 4.98–21.25 0.12 (0.19) 0.1 51.64
Rickettsia typhi Fleas 10 1281 85 8.23 3.47–18.28 0.58–57.88 1.72 (1.21) < 0.0001 90.6

Alla combined ectoparasites types for both ticks and fleas, Allb combined ectoparasite types for both ticks, fleas and lice