Rickettsia and Bartonella species in fleas from Reunion Island

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Mar;92(3):617-9. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0424. Epub 2015 Feb 2.

Abstract

Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, and Bartonella DNA was detected by molecular tools in 12% of Rattus rattus fleas (Xenopsylla species) collected from Reunion Island. One-third of the infested commensal rodents captured during 1 year carried at least one infected flea. As clinical signs of these zoonoses are non-specific, they are often misdiagnosed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bartonella / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Flea Infestations / epidemiology
  • Flea Infestations / veterinary
  • Humans
  • Mammals
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Reunion / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification*
  • Siphonaptera / microbiology*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S