Phylogenetic tree of Rickettsia species inferred from the comparison of concatenated sequences from the gltA and sca4 genes.
Rickettsia species are distributed into 4 groups: SFG, TRG, TG, and AG. SFG rickettsiae are mostly associated with ticks; TG rickettsiae with human body lice (R. prowazekii) and rat fleas (R. typhi); TRG rickettsiae with ticks, cat fleas, or mites; and AG rickettsiae with ticks. Asterisks mark pathogenic species, and bold letters indicate species causing CNS infections. AG, ancestral group; CNS, central nervous system; SFG, spotted fever group; TG, typhus group; TRG, transitional group.
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