Table 2.
SFG Rickettsia species identified in Eswatini ticks. Tick species, life stage, and sample size indicated in columns. The numbers of positive samples are shown followed by the prevalence estimates and then the 95% confident intervals for prevalence estimates in brackets. Blue font represents a novel association between a pathogen and tick species. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults (n = 146), R. evertsi adults (n = 6), R. maculatus adults (n = 93), and R. muehlensi adults (n = 74) were screened for SFG Rickettsia and all tested negative.
| Pathogen Species/Genotype | Amblyomma hebraeum | Haemaphysalis elliptica | Rhipicephlaus simus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (n = 12) | Nymph (n = 38) | Adult (n = 219) | Adult (n = 494) | |
| Rickettsia africae | 1; 8.33% (0.2–38.5%) | 19; 50% (33.4–66.6%) | 0 | 0 |
| Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8; 1.6% (0.7–3.1%) |
| Rickettsia conorii | 0 | 0 | 9; 4.1% (1.9–7.7%) | 0 |
| Rickettsia massiliae | 0 | 0 | 8; 3.7% (1.6–7.1%) | 14; 2.8% (1.6–4.7%) |
| Rickettsia sp. A | 0 | 2; 5.26% (0.6–17.9%) | 0 | 0 |
| Rickettsia sp. B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9; 1.8% (0.8–3.4%) |
| Rickettsia sp. C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2; 0.4% (0.05–1.5%) |
| Richness | 2 | 2 | 4 | |