Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses and Murine Typhus in a Malaysian Teaching Hospital

Kho, Kai Ling; Koh, Fui Xian; Singh, Harvinder; Zan, Hafizatul Anis Mohamed; Kukreja, Anjanna; Ponnampalavanar, Sasheela; Tay, Sun Tee

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.16-0199

Cited by 36 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Gene sequences identical or almost identical (> 99.9% identity) to those from our study were detected in cat fleas from California, Texas and Georgia within the U.S. and in cat fleas and other vectors in countries in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and in Asia ( Table 1). The R. asembonensis detected here is similar (> 99%) to genotypes obtained from human blood in Peru 19 and Malaysia 20 , from Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Malaysia 21 and from cats in Thailand 22 .…”

Section: Rickettsia Detection In Cat Fleassupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Our unanticipated study uncovered two different mitochondrial lineages of human-biting cat fleas infected with Rickettsia asembonensis. This flea-borne spotted fever Rickettsia species falls within the transitional group 26 and has been associated with human pathogenicity in Peru 19 and in Malaysia 20 . Rickettsia asembonensis was detected in the blood of healthy cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in Malaysia 21 and in blood samples from cats in Thailand 22 , showing that this bacterium infects wild and domestic mammals, which in turn can act as reservoirs for human infections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metagenomic analysis of human-biting cat fleas in urban northeastern United States of America reveals an emerging zoonotic pathogen

Ferreira

Fonseca

Hamilton

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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An infestation of cat fleas in a research center led to the detection of two genotypes of Ctenocephalides felis biting humans in New Jersey, USA. The rarer flea genotype had an 83% incidence of Rickettsia asembonensis, a recently described bacterium closely related to R. felis, a known human pathogen. A metagenomics analysis developed in under a week recovered the entire R. asembonensis genome at high coverage and matched it to identical or almost identical (> 99% similarity) strains reported worldwide. Our study exposes the potential of cat fleas as vectors of human pathogens in crowded northeastern U.S, cities and suburbs where free-ranging cats are abundant. Furthermore, it demonstrates the power of metagenomics to glean large amounts of comparative data regarding both emerging vectors and their pathogens.

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Section: Rickettsia Detection In Cat Fleassupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomic analysis of human-biting cat fleas in urban northeastern United States of America reveals an emerging zoonotic pathogen

Ferreira

Fonseca

Hamilton

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…35 A R. felis -like organism (RFLO) was detected in a febrile patient, 43 cat fleas and cynomolgus monkeys in recent Malaysian studies. 44, 45, 46 The findings in this study indicate that 22.5% of the indigenous populations and 16.1% of farm workers were previously been exposed to R. felis .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Rickettsial seropositivity in the indigenous community and animal farm workers, and vector surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia

Kho

Koh

Hasan

et al. 2017

Emerging Microbes & Infections

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Rickettsioses are emerging zoonotic diseases that are often neglected in many countries in Southeast Asia. Rickettsial agents are transmitted to humans through exposure to infected arthropods. Limited data are available on the exposure of indigenous community and animal farm workers to the aetiological agents and arthropod vectors of rickettsioses in Peninsular Malaysia. Serological analysis of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia felis was performed for 102 individuals from the indigenous community at six rural villages and 87 workers from eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia in a cross-sectional study. The indigenous community had significantly higher seropositivity rates for R. conorii (P<0.001) and R. felis (P<0.001), as compared to blood donors from urban (n=61). Similarly, higher seropositivity rates for R. conorii (P=0.046) and R. felis (P<0.001) were noted for animal farm workers, as compared to urban blood donors. On the basis of the sequence analysis of gltA, ompA and ompB, various spotted fever group rickettsiae closely related to R. raoultii, R. heilongjiangensis, R. felis-like organisms, R. tamurae, Rickettsia sp. TCM1, R. felis, Rickettsia sp. LON13 and R. hulinensis were identified from tick/flea samples in animal farms, indigenous villages and urban areas. This study describes rickettsial seropositivity of the Malaysian indigenous community and animal farm workers, and provides molecular evidence regarding the presence of rickettsial agents in ticks/fleas infesting domestic animals in Peninsular Malaysia.

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“…Additionally, Rickettsia sp. RF2125, a genotype highly related to R. asembonensis, was reported with high incidence in C. orientis from India and Thailand [72,73], and was also found in a febrile patient from Malaysia [74]. Moreover, R. felis, R. asembonensis and Candidatus R. senegalensis clustered in the SFGR (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Molecular Detection of Pathogens in Ticks and Fleas Collected from Companion Dogs and Cats in East and Southeast Asia

Nguyen

Colella

Greco

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia.Methods: A total of 392 ticks and 248 fleas were collected from 401 infested animals (i.e., 271 dogs and 130 cats) to molecularly screened for the presence of pathogens. Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. while fleas were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp.Result: Of the 392 ticks tested, 37 (9.4%) scored positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (5.4%), followed by Ehrlichia canis (1.8%), Babesia vogeli (1%), Anaplasma platys (0.8%) and Rickettsia spp. (1%) [including Rickettsia sp. (0.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (0.3%), Rickettsia felis (0.3%)]. Out of 248 fleas tested, 106 (42.7%) were harboring at least one pathogen with R. felis being the most common (19.4%), followed by Bartonella spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (10.9%) and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis (0.4%). Furthermore, 35 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, of which 34 ticks belonged to the tropical and only one belonged to the temperate lineage (Rh. sanguineus sensu stricto). Conclusion: Our data reveals the circulation of different VBPs in ticks and fleas of dogs and cats from Asia, including zoonotic agents, which may represent a potential risk to animal and human health.

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Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses and Murine Typhus in a Malaysian Teaching Hospital

Cited by 36 publications

References 28 publications

Metagenomic analysis of human-biting cat fleas in urban northeastern United States of America reveals an emerging zoonotic pathogen

Metagenomic analysis of human-biting cat fleas in urban northeastern United States of America reveals an emerging zoonotic pathogen

Rickettsial seropositivity in the indigenous community and animal farm workers, and vector surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia

Molecular Detection of Pathogens in Ticks and Fleas Collected from Companion Dogs and Cats in East and Southeast Asia

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