Small Indian Mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) Serve As Reservoirs of Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia felis Vectored by Ctenocephalides felis

Author(s):  
Kexin Fang ◽  
Kaitlyn Philpot ◽  
Xinyu Chi ◽  
Jennifer Ketzis ◽  
Aifang Du ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 318-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Greigert ◽  
Julie Brunet ◽  
Basma Ouarti ◽  
Maureen Laroche ◽  
Alexander W Pfaff ◽  
...  

Abstract Fleas are ectoparasites of various animals, including Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Primates: Hominidae). Among the species relevant to the human health field, either due to their dermatopathological potential or because of their role as vectors of microorganisms responsible for infectious diseases, such as plague or murine typhus, are the human flea, oriental rat flea, closely related cat and dog fleas, and chigoe flea. However, other species can accidentally infest humans. We have herein reported two unusual cases of humans infested and bitten by Archaeopsylla erinacei, the hedgehog flea. This species has been identified using stereomicroscopy, on the base of key characteristics. Furthermore, a brief literature review has revealed that hedgehog fleas could carry human-infectious agents, such as Rickettsia felis Bouyer et al. 2001 (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) or Bartonella henselae Regnery et al.1992 (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae). Using molecular biology, we thus tested nine A. erinacei specimens taken from these patients, for several bacteria species commonly associated with hematophagous arthropods, implicated in human pathology. However, all our samples were proven negative. The role of A. erinacei in human epidemiology has never been evaluated to date. This report sought to remind us that these fleas can be accidental parasites in humans. In addition, recent findings pertaining to bacteria of medical interest that are present in these insects should be brought to the fore, given that the question of their role as vectors in human infections remains unanswered and deserves further investigation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNA PSAROULAKI ◽  
ANDREAS PAPAEUSTATHIOU ◽  
FEIDIAS LOUKAIDES ◽  
YANNIS TSELENTIS ◽  
MARIA ANTONIOU ◽  
...  

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1114
Author(s):  
Mustafa Necati Muz ◽  
Serkan Erat ◽  
Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu

Domestic felines' re-emerging infectious and neglected zoonotic diseases are a significant focus of global "One Health" efforts. This study aimed to rapidly diagnose 14 pathogens, including zoonoses by using PCR primers in 167 client-owned symptomatic cats, routinely accepted to the Veterinary Clinics of Tekirdag. The prevalence of pathogens investigated were as follows: Babesia canis canis (24%), Babesia microti (2.4%), Hepatozoon felis (10.8%), Cytauxzoon felis (6.6%), Bartonella henselae (40.1%), Anaplasma platys (30.5%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (7.2%), Rickettsia felis (26.3%), Borrelia burgdorferi (21%), and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. (11.4%). There was a significant difference between the prevalence of the pathogens (?2 = 152.26, df = 9, p < 0.001). There was also a statistical difference between the gender of the cats in terms of the prevalence of all pathogens considered together (?2 = 4.80, df = 1, p = 0.028), where the female cats showed a higher prevalence. This was not the case for the different age groups (?2 = 2.92, df = 1, p=0.088). The lowest infection was observed for B. microti (p < 0.001), while the highest infection was observed for B. henselae (p < 0.01). Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium spp., Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis PCR test results were negative in all samples. In conclusion, house cats of Tekirdag are apparently highly susceptible to some neglected zoonoses important for "One Health," and their prevalence in the region is most probably underestimated. Hence, applying PCR tests to assist fast clinic diagnosis in routine, may be an efficient option to protect the public as well as the cats from severe diseases.


2014 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio C. Horta ◽  
Fernando Ferreira ◽  
Francisco B. Costa ◽  
Milka C. Azevedo ◽  
Maria Ogrzewalska ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. S8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gioia Capelli ◽  
Fabrizio Montarsi ◽  
Elena Porcellato ◽  
Giulia Maioli ◽  
Carmelo Furnari ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 4577-4586 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUPANEE HIRUNKANOKPUN ◽  
CHUTIMA THEPPARIT ◽  
LANE D. FOIL ◽  
KEVIN R. MACALUSO

2006 ◽  
Vol 1078 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M VENZAL ◽  
L. PEREZ-MARTINEZ ◽  
M. L FELIX ◽  
A. PORTILLO ◽  
J. R BLANCO ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-240
Author(s):  
Estefanía Abreu‐Yanes ◽  
Néstor Abreu‐Acosta ◽  
Michael Kosoy ◽  
Pilar Foronda

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon E. Henriquez ◽  
Kyah Featherston ◽  
Bruce H Noden

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