Ectoparasites and Associated Pathogens of Free-Roaming and Captive Animals in Zoos of South Carolina

Abstract

A survey of ectoparasites and their associated pathogens was conducted in two South Carolina zoos, from 2004 to 2007. Dead, wild birds and mammals, as well as captive animals examined during routine veterinary checks constituted the study populations. Ectoparasites were tested for species of Anaplasma, Bartonella, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Trypanosoma. Forty-six species of ectoparasites were collected from 133 free-roaming and captive hosts and their associated nesting and bedding materials. Six vector-borne pathogens were detected molecularly in the ectoparasites, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the tick Ixodes dentatus Marx from an eastern cottontail rabbit, Bartonella clarridgeiae in the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) from a Virginia opossum, Bartonella sp. Oh6 in the squirrel flea Orchopeas howardi (Baker) from an eastern grey squirrel, Bartonella sp. T7498 in the sucking louse Neohaematopinus sciuri Jancke from a squirrel, Rickettsia sp. Rf2125 in C. felis from a zookeeper and a grizzly bear, and Rickettsiales sp. Ib 2006 in Ixodes brunneus Koch from an American crow. While the pathology of some of these pathogens is poorly known, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis) and Bartonella clarridgeiae (causative agent of a disease similar to cat-scratch disease) can infect humans. Ectoparasites and their pathogens, especially those originating from free-roaming animals, present a potential threat to captive animals and humans.

Identification of Zoonotic and Vector-borne Infectious Agents Associated with Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in Residential Neighborhoods of Orange County, California

“…Other Bartonella species present in urban areas of Southern California include Bartonella rochalimae-like DNA and B. tribocorum-like DNA detected from Oriental rat fleas (X. cheopis) removed from Norway rats (Billeter et al 2011). Additionally, cat fleas recovered from opossums in South Carolina were found to harbor B. clarridgeiae (single specimens) and B. henselae DNA (Reeves et al 2005, Nelder et al 2009. The reasons why B. henselae or other Bartonella species commonly found associated with cat fleas, cats, and rodents in urban areas was not detected in opossums and their cat fleas in this study should be explored further in future studies to better understand transmission dynamics.…”

Evidence for a specific host-endosymbiont relationship between ‘Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125’ and Ctenocephalides felis orientis infesting dogs in India

“…Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 was later described in a variety of flea species spanning nine countries -four Archaeopsylla erinacei sourced from hedgehogs in Algeria [ 32 ] and two sourced from foxes in France [ 33 ]; 12 C. canis isolated from dogs in Gabon [ 33 ]; 12 Echidnophaga gallinacea isolated from five black rats in Egypt [ 34 ]; a single Pulex irritans sourced from a dog in Hungary [ 35 ]; 6/209 C. felis sourced from dogs and cats and from 56/57 rats in Malaysia [ 36 , 37 ]; 2 pools of C. felis from a zookeeper and a grizzly bear in the USA [ 38 ], 44/81 C. felis pools sourced from dogs and cats in Costa Rica [ 39 ]; and C. felis and C. canis sourced from dogs and cats in Uruguay [ 40 ]. The aforementioned studies did not provide detailed morphological or molecular identification of Ctenocephalides spp.…”

Molecular detection ofRickettsia felis and CandidatusRickettsia Asemboensis in Fleas from Human Habitats, Asembo, Kenya

“…SE313, similar to RF2125, was also discovered in 12 of 12 Echidnophaga gallinacea (sticktight fleas) and in 7 of 120 (5.8%) pools of Ornithonyssus bacoti (tropical rat mites) obtained from rats live-trapped in Egypt (Loftis et al 2006, Reeves et al 2007). In a survey of ectoparasites and associated pathogens of freeroaming and captive animals in zoos of South Carolina, Rickettsia RF2125 was found in C. felis removed from a zookeeper and a grizzly bear (Nelder et al 2009). In addition, Rickettsia RF2125 was identified in P. irritans (human flea) obtained from a dog in Hungary (Hornok et al 2010).…”