<i>Bartonella</i>spp. and<i>Rickettsia felis</i>in Fleas, Democratic Republic of Congo

Sackal, Cherilyn; Laudisoit, Anne; Kosoy, Michael; Massung, Robert F.; Eremeeva, Marina E.; Karpathy, Sandor E.; Wyk, Kristen Van; Gabitzsch, Elizabeth S.; Zeidner, Nordin S.

doi:10.3201/eid1412.080610

Cited by 47 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Xenopsylla cheopis was the only flea species infected with Rickettsia spp. The positive controls consisted of one Pulex irritans and one Ctenocephalides felis strongylus from Ituri district, 19 and showed 99.8% (787 of 788) homology with Rickettsia sp. R14 (GenBank HM370113) and Rickettsia sp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No Bartonella spp. were detected in fleas from Kisangani, however B. clarridgeiae, B. vinsonii, B. rochalimae-like, and a new Bartonella genotype were previously 19 reported in fleas collected from rural areas of DRC. The circulation of several Bartonella species may have a high risk in impoverished populations or immunocompromised inhabitants of the neighborhoods near our sample sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cf9 (GenBank DQ379483) detected in fleas from India and the United States, respectively, and only 94% (727 of 777) similarity with R. felis (GenBank GQ329879) suggesting that this is a Rickettsia felis-like bacterium. In the study of Sackal and others, 19 it was identified as Rickettsia felis by real-time multiplex PCR assay suggesting that the molecular system used was not specific. The positive samples in this study were identified as R. typhi showing 100% homology with the reference strain R. typhi str.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…in a former study. 19 Genetic identification of rodent, Rickettsia, and Bartonella species/strains. For each rat, DNA was extracted from a mixture of the four organ biopsies to 1) confirm the host species identity using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequencing using L7 and H6 primers 29 ; obtained sequences were compared with known sequences of the Africanrodentia database (http://projects.biodiversity.be/africanrodentia/), 2) detect the presence and estimate the prevalence and strain identity of Bartonella spp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Laudisoit¹,

Falay

Amundala

et al. 2014

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The prevalence and identity of Rickettsia and Bartonella in urban rat and flea populations were evaluated in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by molecular tools. An overall prevalence of 17% Bartonella species and 13% Rickettsia typhi, the agent of murine typhus, was found in the cosmopolitan rat species, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus that were infested by a majority of Xenopsylla cheopis fleas. Bartonella queenslandensis, Bartonella elizabethae, and three Bartonella genotypes were identified by sequencing in rat specimens, mostly in R. rattus. Rickettsia typhi was detected in 72% of X. cheopis pools, the main vector and reservoir of this zoonotic pathogen. Co-infections were observed in rodents, suggesting a common mammalian host shared by R. typhi and Bartonella spp. Thus, both infections are endemic in DRC and the medical staffs need to be aware knowing the high prevalence of impoverished populations or immunocompromised inhabitants in this area.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Laudisoit¹,

Falay

Amundala

et al. 2014

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…26,[28][29][30] This flea species may transmit pathogens other than Y. pestis, including Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia felis, and Bartonella species. [63][64][65][66] Further study is required to determine whether cat fleas are likely to transmit these pathogens to humans in Uganda. In addition, insofar as C. felis is a nuisance biter in this region, vector control efforts, including those that target plague, may be more appealing to residents of the West Nile region if they eliminate C. felis in addition to those species most likely to transmit pathogens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Meal Identification in Off-Host Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) from a Plague-Endemic Region of Uganda

Graham¹,

Borchert²,

Black³

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is an inefficient vector of the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and is the predominant off-host flea species in human habitations in the West Nile region, an established plague focus in northwest Uganda. To determine if C. felis might serve as a Y. pestis bridging vector in the West Nile region, we collected on-and off-host fleas from human habitations and used a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based assay to estimate the proportion of off-host C. felis that had fed on humans and the proportion that had fed on potentially infectious rodents or shrews. Our findings indicate that cat fleas in human habitations in the West Nile region feed primarily on domesticated species. We conclude that C. felis is unlikely to serve as a Y. pestis bridging vector in this region.

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Skin Tropical Infections and Dermatology in Travellers

Vega‐López

Ritchie

2013

Principles and Practice of Travel Medicine

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Bartonellaspp. andRickettsia felisin Fleas, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cited by 47 publications

References 7 publications

High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Blood Meal Identification in Off-Host Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) from a Plague-Endemic Region of Uganda

Skin Tropical Infections and Dermatology in Travellers

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