Special Issue
Dear all,
You are invited to participate in the 4th Asia Pacific Rickettsial Conference (APRC4), which will take place from 29th September to 1st October 2025 in Penang, Malaysia. Malaysia is honored to host this prestigious event, bringing together experts in the field of rickettsial diseases.
Rickettsial diseases, caused by bacteria from the genera Rickettsia, Orientia, and related groups, are vector-borne infections primarily transmitted by ticks, fleas, lice, and mites. These diseases, including scrub typhus, spotted fever group rickettsioses, and epidemic typhus, pose significant public health threats worldwide, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Despite their impact, rickettsial infections remain underdiagnosed due to nonspecific symptoms and challenges in laboratory detection. Understanding their complex epidemiology, improving diagnostic methods, developing effective treatment strategies, and enhancing vector control efforts are critical to mitigating their burden.
In conjunction with APRC4, Tropical Biomedicine, a Web of Science (WoS) indexed journal, is pleased to announce a Special Issue on "Rickettsial Diseases", scheduled for publication in the December 2025 issue. This Special Issue aims to highlight advancements in rickettsial disease research, covering epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical management, treatment strategies, and vector control. By consolidating research findings and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this issue will serve as a valuable platform for experts to share their latest insights and innovations in the field.
The Special Issue will be led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lucas Low Van Lun and Dr. Stanley Tan Tiong Kai. We invite APRC4 presenters and researchers actively engaged in rickettsial disease research to submit review articles, original research papers, short communications, and case studies for consideration.
All submissions should be made online at https://journal.opussoft.net/site/login and will undergo the standard peer-review process. Contributors are encouraged to submit their work at their earliest convenience, with a suggested deadline of October 31, 2025. While later submissions may be considered, there is a possibility of missing the publication deadline for the Special Issue. However, all accepted papers, whether included in the Special Issue or regular issues, will be published online shortly after acceptance.
We look forward to your participation in APRC4 and your contributions to this important Special Issue. Thank you for your support of Tropical Biomedicine.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lucas Low Van Lun
President, Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM) and Organising Chair, APRC4