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A Molecular Survey of Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis and Babesia microti in Foxes and Fleas from Sicily
Author(s) -
Torina A.,
Blanda V.,
Antoci F.,
Scimeca S.,
D'Agostino R.,
Scariano E.,
Piazza A.,
Galluzzo P.,
Giudice E.,
Caracappa S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12137
Subject(s) - biology , anaplasma phagocytophilum , felis , ehrlichia canis , pulex , babesia canis , canis , ctenocephalides , rickettsia , flea , anaplasma , veterinary medicine , virology , babesia , zoology , tick , ecology , borrelia burgdorferi , cats , medicine , daphnia , virus , serology , crustacean , computer science , antibody , immunology , embedded system
Summary Fleas ( I nsecta: S iphonaptera) are obligate bloodsucking insects, which parasitize birds and mammals, and are distributed throughout the world. Several species have been implicated in pathogen transmission. This study aimed to monitor red foxes and the fleas isolated from them in the P alermo and R agusa provinces of S icily, I taly, as these organisms are potential reservoirs and vectors of pathogens. Thirteen foxes ( V ulpes vulpes ) and 110 fleas were analysed by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) to detect DNA of the pathogens E hrlichia canis , B abesia microti , R ickettsia spp., A naplasma phagocytophilum , A naplasma platys , A naplasma marginale and A naplasma ovis . In the foxes, A . ovis was detected in only one animal, whereas the prevalence of the E . canis pathogen was 31%. B . microti and R ickettsia spp. were not detected. Of all of the collected fleas, 75 belonged to the species X enopsylla cheopis , 32 belonged to C tenocephalides canis , two belonged to C tenocephalides felis and one belonged to C ediopsylla inaequalis . In the fleas, the following pathogens were found: A . ovis (prevalence 25%), A . marginale (1%), A . phagocytophilum (1%), R ickettsia felis (2%) and E . canis (3%). X . cheopis was the flea species most frequently infected with A naplasma , in particular A . ovis (33%), A . marginale (1%) and A . phagocytophilum (1%). Both C . felis exemplars were positive for R . felis . E . canis was found in the lone C . inaequalis and also in 3% of the X . cheopis specimens. No fleas were positive for B . microti or A . platys . As foxes often live in proximity to domestic areas, they may constitute potential reservoirs for human and animal parasites. Further studies should be performed on fleas to determine their vectorial capacity.