Vector-Borne Agents Detected in Fleas of the Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog

Abstract

This is the first large-scale molecular investigation of fleas from a geographically widespread and highly urbanized species, the northern white-breasted hedgehog. In this study, 759 fleas (the majority were Archaeopsylla erinacei) collected from 134 hedgehogs were molecularly analyzed individually or in pools for the presence of three groups of vector-borne pathogens. All flea samples were positive for rickettsiae: In two samples (1.5%) Rickettsia helvetica and in 10% of the others a novel rickettsia genotype were identified. Additionally, Bartonella henselae (the causative agent of cat scratch disease in humans) was demonstrated in one flea (0.7%), and hemoplasmas of the hemofelis group were identified in seven other samples (5.2%). The findings of vector-borne agents not detected before in A. erinacei fleas broaden the range of those diseases of veterinary-medical importance, of which hedgehogs may play a role in the epidemiology. This is the first large-scale molecular investigation of fleas from a geographically widespread and highly urbanized species, the northern white-breasted hedgehog. In this study, 759 fleas (the majority were Archaeopsylla erinacei) collected from 134 hedgehogs were molecularly analyzed individually or in pools for the presence of three groups of vector-borne pathogens. All flea samples were positive for rickettsiae: In two samples (1.5%) Rickettsia helvetica and in 10% of the others a novel rickettsia genotype were identified. Additionally, Bartonella henselae (the causative agent of cat scratch disease in humans) was demonstrated in one flea (0.7%), and hemoplasmas of the hemofelis group were identified in seven other samples (5.2%). The findings of vector-borne agents not detected before in A. erinacei fleas broaden the range of those diseases of veterinary-medical importance, of which hedgehogs may play a role in the epidemiology. DOI

Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia

“…were reported to infect Atelerix algirus and fleas infesting hedgehogs [ 31 , 145 ]. Consistent with our results, Bartonella species were detected in A. erinacei collected from the northern white-breasted hedgehog [ 146 ]. In addition, Bartonella spp.…”

Patterns in the distribution and directional asymmetry of fleas living on the northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus

“…Fleas are capable of transmitting to humans the obligate intracellular bacterium, Rickettsia felis, that causes a typhus-like disease in humans (Perez-Osorio et al 2008). Most (96%) A. erinacei fleas were found to harbour R. felis in Germany (Gilles et al 2009), and in a recent molecular analysis of the [2009][2010] fleas from the present study, all flea samples were positive for rickettsiae, with two samples (1.5%) harbouring Rickettsia helvetica and 10% positive for a novel Rickettsia genotype (see Hornok et al 2014). Additionally, Bartonella henselae (the causative agent of cat scratch disease in humans) was detected in one A. erinacei (0.7%), and hemoplasmas of the hemofelis group were identified in seven other samples (5.2%) (Hornok et al 2014).…”

The molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in cat and dog fleas collected from companion animals

“…A study from the Netherlands showed occurrence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA in two unknown species of fleas collected from rodents (Sprong et al 2009). Furthermore, Hornok et al (2014) showed the presence of this species in two females of Archaeopsylla erinacei.…”

“…The occurrence of some species of Rickettsia was described in fleas in several European countries (Brouqui et al 2006, Parola 2011, Hornok et al 2014, Špitalská et al 2015, Radzijevskaja et al 2018, Víchová et al 2018. Four groups belong to Rickettsia: Spotted Fever Group rickettsiae (SFG) including approximately 20 species, Typhus Group (TG) with R. prowazeki and R. typhi, the ancestral group (R. canadensis and R. belli) and the transitional group (R. akari, R. felis and R. australis) (Wood andArtsob 2011, Radzijevskaja et al 2018).…”