Bartonella species in fleas from Palestinian territories: Prevalence and genetic diversity. Issue 2 (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nasereddin, A.; Risheq, A.; Harrus, S.; Azmi, K.; Ereqat, S.; Baneth, G.; Salant, H.; Mumcuoglu, K.Y.; Abdeen, Z.
• Is Part Of: Journal of vector ecology. Volume 39:Issue 2(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 261
• Page End: 270
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Arthropod vectors -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Animal ecology -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Periodicals; Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; 571.986
• DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-1710

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>Bartonellosis is an infectious bacterial disease. The prevalence and genetic characteristics of <italic>Bartonella spp</italic>. in fleas of wild and domestic animals from Palestinian territories are described. Flea samples (n=289) were collected from 121 cats, 135 dogs, 26 hyraxes and seven rats from northern (n=165), central (n=113), and southern Palestinian territories (n=11). The prevalent flea species were: <italic>Ctenocephalides felis</italic> (n=119/289; 41.2%), <italic>Ctenocephalides canis</italic> (n=159/289; 55%), and <italic>Xenopsylla</italic> sp. (n=7/289; 2.4%). Targeting the Intergenic Transcribed Spacer (<italic>ITS</italic>) locus, DNA of <italic>Bartonella</italic> was detected in 22% (64/289) of all fleas. Fifty percent of the <italic>C. felis</italic> and 57% of the <italic>Xenopsylla</italic> sp. contained <italic>Bartonella</italic> DNA. DNA sequencing showed the presence of <italic>Bartonella clarridgeiae</italic> (50%), <italic>Bartonella henselae</italic> (27%), and <italic>Bartonella koehlerae</italic> (3%) in <italic>C. felis. Xenopsylla</italic> sp. collected from <italic>Rattus rattus</italic> rats were infected with <italic>Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella elizabethae</italic>, and <italic>Bartonella rochalimae</italic>. Phylogenetic sequence analysis using the 16S ribosomal RNA gene obtained four genetic clusters, <italic>B. henselae</italic> and <italic>B. koehlerae</italic> as subcluster 1, <italic>B. clarridgeiae</italic> as cluster 2, while the rat <italic>Bartonella</italic> species (<italic>B. tribocorum</italic> and <italic>B. elizabethae</italic>) were an outgroup cluster. These findings showed the important role of cat and rat fleas as vectors of zoonotic <italic>Bartonella</italic> species in Palestinian territories. It is hoped that this publication will raise awareness among physicians, veterinarians, and other health workers of the high prevalence of <italic>Bartonella</italic> spp. in fleas in Palestinian territories and the potential risk of these pathogens to humans and animals in this region.</p> </abstract>