Seabirds in the western Indian Ocean area and the particular tick species that feed upon them are reported to carry Coxiella and Rickettsia. In the paper, Massive infection of seabird ticks with Coxiella burnetii related species, the authors write, "Detailed studies of the pathogenicity of these bacteria will now be required to determine whether horizontal transmission can occur and to clarify their status as potential human pathogens."
