Molecular detection of Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and Rickettsia felis in cat and dog fleas in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

ABSTRACTThe cat fleaCtenocephalides felis is the main vector ofBartonella henselae andBartonella clarridgeiae, the causative agents of cat ‐scratch disease (CSD) and the spotted‐fever agentRickettsia felis. In spite of their worldwide distribution, there are no data on the occurrence of CSD ‐causingBartonella species or the prevalence ofRickettsia species in the Canary Islands, Spain. Therefore, the aim of our study was to screen cat and dog fleas for both pathogens. A total of 128C. felis from cats and dogs were screened forBartonella andRickettsia by PCR.Bartonella henselae (2.3%) andB. clarridgeiae (3.9%) were found in fleas infesting cats, whereasR. felis was identified in both cat (36.6%) and dog (40.7%) fleas. Further, co ‐infections were observed. This work constitutes the first finding of CSD‐causingBartonella species and the first study on the prevalence ofR. felis in fleas from domestic animals in the Canary Islands. These results indicate public health importance, as associated infections could be misdiagnosed in the Archipelago despite their clinical relevance. Establishing human and animal routine diagnosis procedures for these pathogens along with improving vector control in shelters is necessary in order to prevent the spread of the infections among animals.
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research