Genetically, this Rickettsia is closely related to R. raoultii, R. massiliae, and R. conorii (16S rRNA gene shares 99.91% identity with R. raoultii and R. conorii, while groEL gene shares 99.33% identity with R. massiliae), all of which are recognized human pathogens causing spotted fever. This evidence concerns the gene HSPD1 and spotted fever.