RICKETTSIA FELIS INFECTION IN CAT FLEAS CTENOCEPHALIDES FELIS FELIS

Ano: 2010 | Volume: 41 | Número: 3

Autores: Mauricio C. Horta, Fabio B. Scott, Thaís R. Correia, Julio I. Fernandes, Leonardo J. Richtzenhain, Marcelo B. Labruna

Palavras-chave: Rickettsia felis, flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis, cats, humans

Resumo Inglês:

The present study evaluated the rickettsial infection in a laboratory colony of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides
felis felis (Bouche) in Brazil. All flea samples (30 eggs, 30 larvae, 30 cocoons, 30 males, and 30 females)
tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were shown to contain rickettsial DNA. PCR products,
corresponding to the rickettsial gltA, htrA, ompA and ompB gene partial sequences were sequenced and
showed to correspond to Rickettsia felis, indicating that the flea colony was 100% infected by R. felis. The
immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed the presence of R. felis-reactive antibodies in blood sera of 7
(87.5%) out of 8 cats that were regularly used to feed the flea colony. From 15 humans that used to work
with the flea colony in the laboratory, 6 (40.0%) reacted positively to R. felis by IFA. Reactive feline and
human sera showed low endpoint titers against R. felis, varying from 64 to 256. With the exception of one
human serum, all R. felis-reactive sera were also reactive to Rickettsia rickettsii and/or Rickettsia parkeri
antigens at similar titers to R. felis. The single human serum that was reactive solely to R. felis had an
endpoint titer of 256, indicating that this person was infected by R. felis.