Acquisition of the cat scratch disease agent Bartonella henselae by cat fleas (Siphonaptera:Pulicidae).
We assayed the ability of cat fleas to become infected with Bartonella henselae, using an artificial feeding device. Fleas fed a concentration of 1 x 10(5) cfu/ml in blood were examined using immunofluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction. Bacteria were present in the gut at 3 h, and persisted up to 9 d after infection. Qualitatively, the density of B. henselae was greater in the flea gut at 9 d, indicating that replication was occurring in the gut. B. henselae also was detected in the feces of infected fleas 9 d after infection, and produced viable colonies upon inoculation onto heart infusion agar/rabbit blood plates. Our results indicate that fleas can maintain infection with B. henselae, and may play a role in the transmission of this bacterium from infected cats to humans.
Higgins
J A
JA
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Radulovic
S
S
Jaworski
D C
DC
Azad
A F
AF
D000818:Animals; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S