@article {95299, title = {Molecular Survey of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., and Borrelia spp. in Fleas and Lice in Ethiopia}, journal = {Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases}, volume = {20}, year = {2020}, month = {01-2020}, pages = {10 - 14}, abstract = {

Bacterial arthropod-borne pathogens can often cause fever in Africa, but rural laboratories in these settings are usually too basic to provide a precise picture of their epidemiological impact. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in fleas and lice in a rural area of southeast Ethiopia. Between July and November 2013, we extracted DNA from 91 fleas (Ctenocephalides felis [n = 50; 54.9\%], Pulex irritans [n = 37; 40.1\%], and C. canis [n = 4; 4.4\%] and 30 lice (Pediculus humanus capitis [n = 16; 53.3\%] and Pediculus humanus humanus [n = 14; 46.7\%]), using two quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses to look for bacteria from the genera: Anaplasma, Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Francisella, and Rickettsia. Of the 91 fleas analyzed, pathogens were present in 79 (86.8\%), including Rickettsia felis (n = 41; 45\%), Anaplasma platys (n = 40; 44.0\%), Rickettsia monacensis (n = 2; 2.2\%), Ehrlichia muris-like agent (n = 1; 1.1\%), and Bartonella clarridgeiae (n = 1; 1.1\%). P. irritans was the flea species most frequently infected with A. platys (67.7\%), followed by C. felis (30.7\%) (p \< 0.001). Of the 30 lice identified, pathogens were present in 7 (23.3\%): Bartonella quintana (n = 4; 16.7\%), E. muris (n = 2, 6.7\%), and Borrelia recurrentis (n = 1, 3.3\%). Thus, in this rural area of Africa, fleas and lice can transmit parasitic pathogens to humans, causing febrile symptoms.

}, keywords = {Bartonell, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, flea infestation, Rickettsia}, issn = {1530-3667}, doi = {10.1089/vbz.2019.2500}, url = {https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/vbz.2019.2500}, author = {Ram{\'o}n P{\'e}rez-Tanoira and Ramos,J. M. and In{\'e}s Mart{\'\i}n-Mart{\'\i}n and Laura Prieto-P{\'e}rez and Tesfamariam,A. and Gebre Tiziano and Pedro Anda and Rosa M. Gonz{\'a}lez-Mart{\'\i}n-Ni{\~n}o and Manuela Rodr{\'\i}guez-Vargas and Gorgolas,M. and Isabel Jado} }