RESEARCH Spotted fever Rickettsia sp r

and viruses of potential veterinary or medicalUniversity, Uppsala, Sweden Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground There are 26 validated Rickettsia species classified into (a) the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, (b) the ty-phus group rickettsiae (Rickettsia prowazekii, Rickettsia typhi), (c) the Rickettsia bellii group, and (d) the Rickett-sia canadensis group [1-3]. Rickettsia species are obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by various arthropod taxa, mainly ticks, but also fleas, lice and mites can act as vectors and reservoirs. Members of the SFG are widely distributed and several “new ” species of Rickettsia have been described during the last few decades [1]. Seventeen of the 22 SFG-validated species and subspe-cies in the genus Rickettsia are recognized as agents of human disease of which 9 are reported in Europe [1]. Migratory passerine birds are known to be involved in the short- and long-distance spread of parasites, micro