Abstract:
In this study, ticks from pastoral communities in Kenya were tested for Rickettsia spp.
infections in geographical regions where the presence of tick-borne arboviruses had
previously been reported. Rickettsial and arbovirus infections have similar clinical
features which makes differential diagnosis challenging when both diseases occur. The
tick samples were tested for Rickettsia spp. by conventional PCR using three primer sets
targeting the gltA, ompA, and ompB genes followed by amplicon sequencing. Of the tick
pools screened, 25% (95/380) were positive for Rickettsia spp. DNA using the gltA
primer set. Of the tick-positive pools, 60% were ticks collected from camels. Rickettsia
aeschlimannii and R. africae were the main Rickettsia spp. detected in the tick pools
sequenced. The findings of this study indicate that multiple Rickettsia species are
circulating in ticks from pastoral communities in Kenya and could contribute to the
etiology of febrile illness in these areas. Diagnosis and treatment of rickettsial infections
should be a public health priority in these regions.