title: Identification of flea species using MALDI-TOF/MS.
abstract: In the present study, a molecular proteomics (MALDI-TOF/MS) approach was used as a tool for identifying flea vectors. We measured the MS spectra from 38 flea specimens of 5 species including Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Xenopsylla cheopis and Stenoponia tripectinata. A blind test performed with 24 specimens from species included in a library spectral database confirmed that MALDI-TOF/MS is an effective tool for discriminating flea species. Although fresh and 70% ethanol-conserved samples subjected to MALDI-TOF/MS in blind tests were correctly classified, only MS spectra of quality from fresh specimens were sufficient for accurate and significant identification. A cluster analysis highlighted that the MALDI Biotyper can be used for studying the phylogeny of fleas.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yssouf
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Socolovschi
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Hamza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leulmi
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, 1 Rue du Docteur Laveran, Hamma, Alger, Algeria.
authors.forename: Tahar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kernif
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Biodiversité et Environnement: Interactions, Génomes, Faculté des Sciences Biologique, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, Alger, Algeria.
authors.forename: Idir
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bitam
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Audoly
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Almeras
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France. Electronic address: didier.raoult@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France. Electronic address: philippe.parola@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D040901:Proteomics; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Fleas; Identification; MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry