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

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

SUBMITTER: Oteo JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4186946 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature