title: Survey for zoonotic rickettsial pathogens in northern flying squirrels, Glaucomys sabrinus, in California.
abstract: Epidemic typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, is maintained in a southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) sylvatic cycle in the southeastern United States. The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) has not been previously associated with R. prowazekii transmission. A second rickettsial pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, infects dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) and tree squirrels in northern California. Because northern flying squirrels or their ectoparasites have not been tested for these rickettsial pathogens, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to test 24 northern flying squirrels for R. prowazekii and A. phagocytophilum infection or antibodies. Although there was no evidence of exposure to R. prowazekii, we provide molecular evidence of A. phagocytophilum infection in one flying squirrel; two flying squirrels also were seropositive for this pathogen. Fleas and ticks removed from the squirrels included Ceratophyllus ciliatus mononis, Opisodasys vesperalis, Ixodes hearlei, Ixodes pacificus, and Dermacentor paramapertus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. jefoley@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: S Bernadette
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Clueit
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001179:Arthropod Vectors / Q000821:virology; D002140:California; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012283:Rickettsia prowazekii / Q000276:immunology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology; D013987:Ticks / Q000821:virology; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial