title: Molecular Detection of Bartonella Species in Fleas Collected from Dogs and Cats from Costa Rica.
abstract: The bacterial genus Bartonella includes several species with zoonotic potential, some of which are common in domestic dogs and cats, as well as in their fleas. Because there is no previous information about the presence of Bartonella species in fleas from Central America, this study aimed at evaluating the presence of Bartonella spp. in fleas collected from dogs and cats in Costa Rica. A total 72 pools of Ctenocephalides felis and 21 pools of Pulex simulans were screened by conventional PCR to detect Bartonella DNA fragments of the citrate synthase (gltA) and the β subunit RNA polymerase (rpoB) genes. Three (4.2%) pools of C. felis and five pools (22.7%) of P. simulans were found positive for Bartonella DNA. Sequences corresponding to Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii strain Winnie, B. rochalimae, and an undescribed Bartonella sp. (clone BR10) were detected in flea pools from dogs, whereas Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae sequences were identified in flea pools from cats. The detection of zoonotic Bartonella spp. in this study should increase the awareness to these flea-borne diseases among physicians and public health workers and highlight the importance of flea control in the region.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San José, Costa Rica .
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: 1 Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San José, Costa Rica .
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troyo
authors.affiliation: 1 Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica , San José, Costa Rica .
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: 2 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel .
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: 2 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel .
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D058251:Ctenocephalides / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Bartonella; Bartonellosis; Cats; Ctenocephalides felis; Dogs; Domestic animals; PCR; Pulex