Species or strains in this genus are coccoid or pleomorphic cells that reside in cytoplasmic vacuoles within monocytes and macrophages of dogs, horses, bats, and humans.
[2] Unlike other forms of ehrlichiosis, Neorickettsia sennetsu is transmitted by trematodes from fish.
[3] Neorickettsia risticii causes Potomac horse fever.
Neorickettsia helminthoeca is found in association with the trematode Nanophyetus salmincola, and causes salmon poisoning disease in dogs and other canids.
Neorickettsia elokominica causes a similar disease, Elokomin fluke fever, in canids and other species.