Artículos de revistas

‘Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis’ and Wolbachia spp. in Ctenocephalides felis and Pulex irritans fleas removed from dogs in Ecuador

Date
2014-09-30
Registration in:
Parasites & Vectors, 2014 Sep 30;7(1):455
10.1186/s13071-014-0455-0
Author
Oteo, José A
Portillo, Aránzazu
Portero, Francisco
Zavala-Castro, Jorge
Venzal, José M
Labruna, Marcelo B
Institutions
Abstract
Abstract Background Flea-borne infections are distributed worldwide. Up to date there are no reports about microorganisms associated to fleas in Ecuador. Methods Seventy-one Pulex irritans and 8 Ctenocephalides felis fleas were removed from dogs in two Ecuadorian areas (Pastaza and Chimborazo Provinces) in December 2012. DNA extracts were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting universal 16S rRNA, as well as screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. (gltA, htrA, ompB, sca4 and ompA genes) and Bartonella spp. (rpoB, gltA and ITS genes). Results Our results showed the presence of ‘Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis’ (highly similar to R. felis) in C. felis and Wolbachia spp. endosimbionts in P. irritans collected from animals in Ecuador. No fleas were found to be positive for any Bartonella species or Yersinia pestis. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of this new Candidatus Rickettsia sp. and keep in mind other flea-borne infections since these flea species frequently bite humans.
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