Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Rickettsia Felis in the Feces of Wild-living African Apes

Keïta, Abdoulaye; Socolovschi, Cristina; Ahuka‐Mundeke, Steve; Ratmanov, Pavel; Butel, Christelle; Ayouba, Ahidjo; Inogwabini, Bila‐Isia; Muyembe‐Tamfum, Jean‐Jacques; Mpoudi‐Ngolé, Eitel; Delaporte, Eric; Peeters, Martine; Fénollar, Florence; Raoult, Didier

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054679

Cited by 34 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Dogs from 2 of the 10 areas studied were also PCR positive (0.8%; 8/1,059), similar to Australia where up to 9% of dogs are PCR positive [9]. Previously, R. felis was found in feces from great apes in Africa [12] but all our canine rectal swabs were negative by PCR. These dogs, however, had negative serology and blood PCRs and were probably then not infected.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

First report of Rickettsia felisin China

Zhang

Kelly

et al. 2014

BMC Infect Dis

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BackgroundRickettsia felis is a recently described flea-borne spotted fever group Rickettsia that is an emerging human pathogen. Although there is information on the organism from around the world, there is no information on the organism in China.MethodsWe used a commercial ELISA to detect antibodies reactive against R. felis in blood samples and developed a PCR to detect the gltA of the organism in blood samples and external parasites.ResultsWe found reactive antibodies in people (16%; 28/180), dogs (47%; 128/271) and cats (21%; 19/90) and positive PCRs with DNA from people (0.1%; 1/822), dogs (0.8%; 8/1,059), mice (10%; 1/10), ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus; 10%; 15/146), lice (Linognathus setosus; 16%; 6/37), fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis; 95%; 57/60) and mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis, Culex pipiens pallens; 6%; 25/428), but not from cats (0/135) or canine fecal swabs (0/43).ConclusionsThis is the first report of R. felis in China where there is serological and/ or PCR evidence of the organism in previously reported [people, dogs, cats, ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) and mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis, Culex pipiens pallens)] and novel species [mice and lice (Linognathus setosus)].Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0682-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

First report of Rickettsia felisin China

Zhang

Kelly

et al. 2014

BMC Infect Dis

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“…41 Thus, R. felis is currently extremely common in some African countries (appearing as an eruptive febrile illness), with evidence in infecting mosquitoes (genera Anopheles and Aedes) and gorilla stools, suggesting that these mammals could be potential reservoirs. 42,43 Human infection with this Rickettsia species has been described worldwide. The prevalence of infection in the main suspected vector (the cat flea, C. felis) is very high and it has been found all around the world.…”

Section: Rickettsia Felis Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syndromic classification of rickettsioses: an approach for clinical practice

Faccini-Martínez

García‐Álvarez

Hidalgo

et al. 2014

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

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Rickettsioses share common clinical manifestations, such as fever, malaise, exanthema, the presence or absence of an inoculation eschar, and lymphadenopathy. Some of these manifestations can be suggestive of certain species of Rickettsia infection. Nevertheless none of these manifestations are pathognomonic, and direct diagnostic methods to confirm the involved species are always required. A syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms that characterizes a disease with many etiologies or causes. This situation is applicable to rickettsioses, where different species can cause similar clinical presentations. We propose a syndromic classification for these diseases: exanthematic rickettsiosis syndrome with a low probability of inoculation eschar and rickettsiosis syndrome with a probability of inoculation eschar and their variants. In doing so, we take into account the clinical manifestations, the geographic origin, and the possible vector involved, in order to provide a guide for physicians of the most probable etiological agent.

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“…Great apes in Cameroon were recently identified as targets or possibly the origin of malaria ( 16 ). R. felis has recently been detected in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in molecular form S, in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, and in gorilla fecal samples ( 17 – 19 ). These elements suggest comparable features within the epidemiologic cycles of malaria and R. felis infection.…”

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confidence: 99%

Common Epidemiology ofRickettsia felisInfection and Malaria, Africa

Mediannikov¹,

Socolovschi²,

Edouard³

et al. 2013

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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109

121

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This study aimed to compare the epidemiology of Rickettsia felis infection and malaria in France, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa and to identify a common vector. Blood specimens from 3,122 febrile patients and from 500 nonfebrile persons were analyzed for R. felis and Plasmodium spp. We observed a significant linear trend (p<0.0001) of increasing risk for R. felis infection. The risks were lowest in France, Tunisia, and Algeria (1%), and highest in rural Senegal (15%). Co-infections with R. felis and Plasmodium spp. and occurrences of R. felis relapses or reinfections were identified. This study demonstrates a correlation between malaria and R. felis infection regarding geographic distribution, seasonality, asymptomatic infections, and a potential vector. R. felis infection should be suspected in these geographical areas where malaria is endemic. Doxycycline chemoprophylaxis against malaria in travelers to sub-Saharan Africa also protects against rickettsioses; thus, empirical treatment strategies for febrile illness for travelers and residents in sub-Saharan Africa may require reevaluation.

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Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Rickettsia Felis in the Feces of Wild-living African Apes

Cited by 34 publications

References 28 publications

First report of Rickettsia felisin China

First report of Rickettsia felisin China

Syndromic classification of rickettsioses: an approach for clinical practice

Common Epidemiology ofRickettsia felisInfection and Malaria, Africa

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