Systems, methods, and computer program products for processing messages and searching for locating messages in an asynchronous messaging network by using content based message tracking. The message descriptor of each message is extended by a content key generated by the message generating application. The content key provides search information derived from application data contained in the message body. Each message queuing system is extend by a message trace component that administers a message trace queue and adds entries in the message trace queue for each operation of a message, and by a message search component that provides the functionality to search for the current location of a specified message as well as to retrieve a trace of the movement of the message.