The Epidemiology of Rickettsia Felis Infecting Fleas of Companion Animals in Eastern Australia

Overview

Journal Parasit Vectors

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Parasitology
Tropical Medicine

Date 2018 Mar 21

PMID 29554953

Citations 5

Authors

Yen Thon Teoh

Sze Fui Hii

Stephen Graves

Robert Rees

John Stenos

Rebecca Justine Traub

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF) caused by Rickettsia felis is an arthropod-borne zoonosis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, primary species and genotype(s) of R. felis infecting fleas from dogs and cats.

Results: All fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis. All rickettsial DNA detected in fleas was identified as being 100% homologous to R. felis URRWXCal2, with positivity within tropical, subtropical and temperate regions noted at 6.7%, 13.2% and 15.5%, respectively. Toy/small breed dogs were found to be at a lower odds of harboring R. felis-positive fleas compared with large breed dogs on univariate analysis, while DMH and pedigree breed cats were at a lower odds compared to DSH cats. Cooler minimum temperature ranges of between 15 to 20 °C and between 8 to 15 °C increased the odds of R. felis positivity in fleas, as did a constrained maximum temperature range of between 27 to 30 °C on multivariable analysis.

Conclusions: Environmental temperature may play a part in influencing R. felis prevalence and infectivity within its flea host. Regional climatic differences need to be considered when approaching public health risk mitigation strategies for FBSF.

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