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Molecular detection of zoonotic bartonellae ( B . henselae , B . elizabethae and B . rochalimae ) in fleas collected from dogs in I srael
Author(s) -
SOFER S.,
GUTIÉRREZ R.,
MORICK D.,
MUMCUOGLU K. Y.,
HARRUS S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/mve.12116
Subject(s) - bartonella , biology , ctenocephalides , pulex , flea , felis , bartonella henselae , zoology , veterinary medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , serology , genetics , cats , medicine , daphnia , crustacean , computer science , antibody , embedded system
Fleas represent an acknowledged burden on dogs worldwide. The characterization of flea species infesting kennel dogs from two localities in I srael ( R ehovot and J erusalem) and their molecular screening for Bartonella species (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae) was investigated. A total of 355 fleas were collected from 107 dogs. The fleas were morphologically classified and molecularly screened targeting the Bartonella 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer ( ITS ). Of the 107 dogs examined, 80 (74.8%) were infested with Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), 68 (63.6%) with Ctenocephalides felis , 15 (14.0%) with Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) and one (0.9%) with Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Fleas were grouped into 166 pools (one to nine fleas per pool) according to species and host. Thirteen of the 166 flea pools (7.8%) were found to be positive for Bartonella DNA . Detected ITS sequences were 99–100% similar to those of four Bartonella species: Bartonella henselae (six pools); Bartonella elizabethae (five pools); Bartonella rochalimae (one pool), and Bartonella bovis (one pool). The present study indicates the occurrence of a variety of flea species in dogs in Israel; these flea species are, in turn, carriers of several zoonotic Bartonella species. Physicians, veterinarians and public health workers should be aware of the presence of these pathogens in dog fleas in I srael and preventive measures should be implemented.