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Rickettsia sp. DNA recovered from a febrile patient from Papua, Indonesia
Edison Johar1, Ida Yus Sriyani1, Yora Permata Dewi1
1Exeins Health Initiative, Jakarta, 12870, Indonesia.
Background:
Rickettsia are neglected, arthropod-borne bacteria causing febrile illness of varying severity. Indonesia is endemic for several Rickettsia species, predominantly from murine and scrub typhus groups.
Objective:
We described here a potentially novel Rickettsia species in a young adult presenting with acute, undifferentiated, febrile illness at a primary health center in Timika, Papua, Indonesia, in 2021.
Methods:
Blood tested positive for Rickettsia spp. by a nucleic acid amplification test, 17-kDa and ompB gene fragments were successfully sequenced.
Results:
The recovered sequences showed the highest similarity to two Rickettsia spp. of mosquito origin, with 90.0% identity for the 17-kDa and 85.6% for the ompB gene.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest the presence of a divergent Rickettsia lineage in Papua, Indonesia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Rickettsia DNA sequences obtained from a human case in this region.
Insights
A novel Rickettsia species was identified in Papua, Indonesia, from a patient with febrile illness. This discovery highlights a previously unknown Rickettsia lineage in the region.
Area of Science:
- Molecular microbiology
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Arthropod-borne pathogens
Background:
- Rickettsia bacteria are arthropod-borne pathogens causing febrile illnesses.
- Indonesia is endemic for Rickettsia species, including murine and scrub typhus groups.
- Rickettsial infections are often neglected, despite their potential severity.
Observation:
- A case of acute, undifferentiated febrile illness in Timika, Papua, Indonesia, was investigated in 2021.
- The patient was a young adult presenting at a primary health center.
- Rickettsia species DNA was detected in the patient's blood sample.
Findings:
- Nucleic acid amplification testing confirmed Rickettsia spp. presence.
- Sequencing of 17-kDa and ompB gene fragments revealed a novel Rickettsia lineage.
- The sequences showed highest similarity to mosquito-associated Rickettsia species (90.0% for 17-kDa, 85.6% for ompB).
Implications:
- This study reports the first Rickettsia DNA sequences from a human case in Papua, Indonesia.
- The findings suggest a divergent Rickettsia lineage circulating in this region.
- Further research is needed to understand the vector and pathogenicity of this novel Rickettsia lineage.
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