Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in dog and cat fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia.
Fleas are important vectors of several Rickettsia and Bartonella spp. that cause emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide. In this study, 303 fleas collected from domestic dogs and cats in Ethiopia and identified morphologically as Ctenocephalides felis felis, C. canis, Pulex irritans, and Echidnophaga gallinacea were tested for Rickettsia and Bartonella DNA by using molecular methods. Rickettsia felis was detected in 21% of fleas, primarily C. felis, with a similar prevalence in fleas from dogs and cats. A larger proportion of flea-infested dogs (69%) than cats (37%) harbored at least one C. felis infected with R. felis. Rickettsia typhi was not detected. Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in 6% (2 of 34) of C. felis collected from cats. Our study highlights the likelihood of human exposure to R. felis, an emerging agent of spotted fever, and B. henselae, the agent of cat-scratch disease, in urban areas in Ethiopia.
Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Bersissa
B
Kumsa
Philippe
P
Parola
Didier
D
Raoult
Cristina
C
Socolovschi
D000818:Animals; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000635:transmission; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics*; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058251:Ctenocephalides / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000635:transmission; D041161:Rickettsia felis / Q000235:genetics*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial