1. Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan
2. Unité des Rickettsies, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd. Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
3. Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
4. Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa