title: First molecular detection of Rickettsia felis in fleas from Algeria.
abstract: Fleas collected in Algeria in the district of Oran between July and September 2003 were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA using primers amplifying gltA and OmpA genes. Two gltA sequences identical to those of an emerging pathogen, Rickettsia felis, were detected including i) R. felis California 2 in Ctenocephalides canis from rodents and ii) R. felis RF2125 in Archeopsylla erinacei from hedgehogs.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Idir
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bitam
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.forename: Katharina Dittmar
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: De La Cruz
authors.forename: Koutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Belkacem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baziz
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rolain
authors.forename: Miloud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belkaid
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D041161:Rickettsia felis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins