{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T10:21:22Z","timestamp":1792750882239,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779926400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779926400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100018370","name":"Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100018370","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Medicine & Sci"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n \n Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria of the spotted fever group (SFG), typhus group (TG) and transitional group, with diverse vectors and significant zoonotic potential. While\n Rickettsia africae<\/jats:italic>\n is well documented in South African ticks, the role of wildlife hosts in pathogen maintenance remains unclear.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n We re\u2010screened 73 spleen samples opportunistically collected from 11 wild mammal species that previously tested negative for\n Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n by reverse line blot hybridization (RLB). The samples were collected from Kruger National Park, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Mountain Zebra National Park and Lapalala Wilderness Reserve. In addition, liver, lymph node and blood samples from two impala were included to preliminarily assess multi\u2010organ dissemination. To increase detection sensitivity, we employed a nested PCR targeting the conserved\n glt<\/jats:italic>\n A gene, in contrast to the 23S\u20105S intergenic spacer (IGS) targeted by RLB.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n The\n gltA<\/jats:italic>\n region was successfully amplified by PCR from 32\/73 animals (44%; confidence intervals [CI]: 32%\u201356%). Sequencing of 27 amplicons revealed SFG\n Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n (\n n<\/jats:italic>\n = 22), TG\n Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n (\n n<\/jats:italic>\n = 3) closely related to\n R. prowazekii<\/jats:italic>\n and transitional group (\n n<\/jats:italic>\n = 1)\n Rickettsia felis<\/jats:italic>\n \u2010like sequences. One zebra (\n Equus quagga<\/jats:italic>\n ) sequence was phylogenetically unresolved, and one sample showed a mixed SFG\u2013TG infection. Rickettsial DNA detections included new host records in giraffe (\n Giraffa camelopardalis<\/jats:italic>\n ), hippopotamus (\n Hippopotamus amphibius<\/jats:italic>\n ), impala (\n Aepyceros melampus<\/jats:italic>\n ), warthog (\n Phacocoerus africanus<\/jats:italic>\n ), white rhinoceros (\n Ceratotherium simum<\/jats:italic>\n ) and zebra. Detection across multiple tissues in impala supports systemic dissemination, consistent with experimental evidence of rickettsial persistence in vertebrate tissues.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n These findings broaden the known host range and illustrate the complex dynamics of pathogen persistence, host diversity and co\u2010infection, although interpretation is constrained by the limited and uneven sample sizes, which preclude robust population\u2010level inference. Integrating high\u2010sensitivity molecular diagnostics with ecological and vector surveillance within a One Health framework will be critical to clarify wildlife reservoir status and mitigate zoonotic risk at the wildlife\u2013livestock\u2013human interface.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/vms3.71000","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T13:04:46Z","timestamp":1779973486000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Improved Detection and Sequencing of\n Rickettsia<\/i>\n spp. DNA in South African Wildlife"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3334-8498","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlo Andrea","family":"Cossu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3780-8604","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Luisa","family":"Menandro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health University of Padova, Legnaro Padua Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Mondin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health University of Padova, Legnaro Padua Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giorgia","family":"Dotto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health University of Padova, Legnaro Padua Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raksha Vasantrai","family":"Bhoora","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3577-1273","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Henriette","family":"van Heerden","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0008547"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2021.101723"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.idc.2018.10.010"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/idr15060063"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.immuni.2013.10.010"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_7_1","volume-title":"CDC Yellow Book 2020","author":"Center for Disease Control and Prevention","year":"2019"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/CDLI.12.6.759\u2010763.2005"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2024.106257"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11030714"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2025.107807"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/nar\/gkh340"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2015.00055"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-323-40181-4.00179-1"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071\u2010017\u20102356\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/IAI.00109\u201012"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071\u2010022\u201005387\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2015.12.008"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/J.TMAID.2018.10.007"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2009.0149"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature06536"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-020-04059-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140\u20106736(12)61678\u2010X"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2015.1849"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2021.0077"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3855\/jidc.11625"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2023.1283814"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071\u2010019\u20103435\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1756\u20103305\u20106\u201070"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4102\/ojvr.v84i1.1265"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071\u2010024\u201006612\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.18.4.719\u2010756.2005"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00032\u201013"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijppaw.2025.101128"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.173.5.1576-1589.1991"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_36_1","volume-title":"Fundamentals of Biostatistics","author":"Rosner B.","year":"2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7554\/e"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms9061309"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2008.12.010"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071\u2010016\u20101784\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0116658"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/tmi.14002"}],"container-title":["Veterinary Medicine and Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/vms3.71000","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/vms3.71000","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/vms3.71000","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T12:16:03Z","timestamp":1787919363000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/vms3.71000"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/vms3.71000"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/vms3.71000","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2053-1095","2053-1095"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2053-1095","type":"print"},{"value":"2053-1095","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-11-06","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-05-07","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-05-28","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e71000"}}