Abstract:
Rickettsia africae is an intracellular gram-negative bacteria which belongs to the
Spotted Fever Group (SFG). It is transmitted by Amblyomma hebraeum ticks in
Southern Africa and Amblyomma variegatum in West, Central and Eastern Africa
(Kelly et al., 1992). It causes African Tick Bite Fever (ATBF) in humans and has
mostly been reported in tourists who visit Southern Africa (Raoult et al., 2001).
Transovarial and transstadial transmission of R. africae in A. hebraeum ticks has
been proved (Kelly & Mason, 1991). The aim of the study was to investigate R. africae infection in A. hebraeum ticks in Mnisi
