Rickettsia Species in African Anopheles Mosquitoes

Socolovschi, Cristina; Pagès, Frédéric; Ndiath, Mamadou Ousmane; Ratmanov, Pavel; Raoult, Didier

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048254

Cited by 64 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In addition, each DNA sample was tested for the bioB gene by using a second qPCR with primers and a probe specific for R. felis. 20,25,31 All DNA samples positive for either the gltA or bioB genes were further confirmed by a third qPCR specific for the orfB gene, which is highly sensitive and specific for R. felis, by using described primers and probes. 20,31 A sample was considered positive for R. felis when it was showed a positive result for at least two of the genes described above.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…31 This variation in C t values most likely reflects differences in sensitivity and specificity among different assays and specific gene targets for the DNA of this bacterium. In addition, fifty randomly selected second half-cut female flea backup samples were negative for R. felis DNA, confirming our initial negative observations for the corresponding first half-cut female flea samples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20,31 Sterile water was used as a negative control and DNA from R. montanensis was used as a positive control. Sequencing was performed as described.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in Dog and Cat Fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia

Kumsa

Parola

Raoult³

et al. 2014

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Fleas are important vectors of several Rickettsia and Bartonella spp. that cause emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide. In this study, 303 fleas collected from domestic dogs and cats in Ethiopia and identified morphologically as Ctenocephalides felis felis, C. canis, Pulex irritans, and Echidnophaga gallinacea were tested for Rickettsia and Bartonella DNA by using molecular methods. Rickettsia felis was detected in 21% of fleas, primarily C. felis, with a similar prevalence in fleas from dogs and cats. A larger proportion of flea-infested dogs (69%) than cats (37%) harbored at least one C. felis infected with R. felis. Rickettsia typhi was not detected. Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in 6% (2 of 34) of C. felis collected from cats. Our study highlights the likelihood of human exposure to R. felis, an emerging agent of spotted fever, and B. henselae, the agent of cat-scratch disease, in urban areas in Ethiopia.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in Dog and Cat Fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia

Kumsa

Parola

Raoult³

et al. 2014

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…albopictus from Gabon and An. gambiae molecular form S (the primary African malarial vector) from Ivory Coast tested positive for R. felis by species-specific real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) (17,18). More recently, several mosquito species from Senegal were found to harbor R. felis, including Ae.…”

Section: Constentinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission potential of Rickettsia felis infection by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes

Dieme

Bechah

Socolovschi

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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138

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A growing number of recent reports have implicated Rickettsia felis as a human pathogen, paralleling the increasing detection of R. felis in arthropod hosts across the globe, primarily in fleas. Here Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the primary malarial vectors in subSaharan Africa, were fed with either blood meal infected with R. felis or infected cellular media administered in membrane feeding systems. In addition, a group of mosquitoes was fed on R. felisinfected BALB/c mice. The acquisition and persistence of R. felis in mosquitoes was demonstrated by quantitative PCR detection of the bacteria up to day 15 postinfection. R. felis was detected in mosquito feces up to day 14. Furthermore, R. felis was visualized by immunofluorescence in salivary glands, in and around the gut, and in the ovaries, although no vertical transmission was observed. R. felis was also found in the cotton used for sucrose feeding after the mosquitoes were fed infected blood. Natural bites from R. felisinfected An. gambiae were able to cause transient rickettsemias in mice, indicating that this mosquito species has the potential to be a vector of R. felis infection. This is particularly important given the recent report of high prevalence of R. felis infection in patients with "fever of unknown origin" in malaria-endemic areas.Rickettsia felis | spotted fever | Anopheles gambiae I n 2002, Rickettsia felis, an obligate intracellular bacterium that belongs to the spotted fever group of Rickettsia, was definitively described (1, 2). Over the past 2 decades, an increasing number of reports have implicated R. felis as a human pathogen, paralleling an increase in reports of the detection of R. felis in arthropod hosts throughout the world (1, 3).By 2011, more than 70 human cases of R. felis had been reported worldwide, including in Central and South America, Asia, northern Africa, and Europe (1). More cases have been published since then, including the first probable human cases in Australia (4). In sub-Saharan Africa, recent studies have challenged the importance of R. felis infection in patients with "fever of unknown origin," with this bacterium detected in up to 15% of such patients (5-7). In 2011, a potential R. felis primary infection, called "yaaf," was suspected in the case of an 8-mo-old girl in Senegal with polymorphous skin lesions similar to those seen in patients from Mexico (8). The epidemiologic and clinical picture of this emerging infection in Africa, including its potential vectors, is poorly understood, however.Various arthropods, but primarily fleas, have been associated with R. felis (1, 3). More specifically, the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis is the arthropod in which R. felis has been most frequently detected. To date, it is the sole confirmed biological vector of R. felis, with both horizontal and vertical transmission making this flea a potential reservoir for this bacterium (9-11). However, in some countries where R. felis appears to be highly prevalent, such as Senegal, neither cat fleas nor other arthropods have been...

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“…1,2 Since then, the bacterium has been reported infecting a number of invertebrate species, including fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, mites, and booklice. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Despite an apparent broad host range, the majority of the literature reports of R. felis have been on fleas of the genus Ctenocephalides; namely, C. felis felis and Ctenocephalides canis collected from domestic dogs and cats. [9][10][11][12] In Brazil, R. felis was reported infecting Ctenocephalides fleas in the states of Sã o Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, all in the Southeastern region of the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides felis felis from Five Geographic Regions of Brazil

Horta¹,

Ogrzewalska²,

Azevedo³

et al. 2014

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. This study evaluated rickettsial infection in 701 Ctenocephalides felis felis fleas that were collected from dogs and cats in 31 municipalities, encompassing all regions and major biomes of Brazil. A total of 268 (38.2%) fleas from 30 municipalities were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for the rickettsial gltA gene. The PCR products from 44 fleas, consisting of at least 1 PCR-positive flea from each of 30 municipalities, generated DNA sequences identical to Rickettsia felis. Rickettsial prevalence was highly variable among 30 municipalities, with values ranging from 2.9% to 100%. Significantly higher infection rates by R. felis were associated with the Pampa biome (southern Brazil), and the temperate climate that prevails in southern Brazil. In contrast, lowest R. felis-infection rates were significantly associated with the Caatinga biome, and its semiarid climate. Further studies should evaluate the effect of temperature and moisture on the R. felis infection in Ctenocephalides fleas world widely.

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Rickettsia Species in African Anopheles Mosquitoes

Cited by 64 publications

References 53 publications

Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in Dog and Cat Fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia

Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in Dog and Cat Fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia

Transmission potential of Rickettsia felis infection by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes

Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides felis felis from Five Geographic Regions of Brazil

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