Rickettsiae and their ecology in the Alpine region

Two rickettsioses are known to be distributed in the Alpine Region, the ubiquitous Q fever and the so called tick-bite fever (fever boutonneuse) which is due to Rickettsia conorii. The latter is only temporarily seen and brought in via dogs by the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus from Italy and southern France. Further, the presence of two apathogenic rickettsiae, R. slovaca (in Austria, Switzerland, Germany) and R. helvetica (Switzerland) has been determined. The present paper will discuss ecology, reservoirs, vectors, and abiotic and biotic environmental factors of these microorganisms. Finally, future perspectives of rickettsial research in the Alpine Region will be stated with respect to the epidemiology.