Detection and identification of Bartonella sp. in fleas from carnivorous mammals in Andalusia,Spain

A total of 559 fleas representing four species (Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis and Spilopsyllus cuniculi) collected on carnivores (five Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, six European wildcat Felis silvestris, 10 common genet Genetta genetta, three Eurasian badger Meles meles, 22 red fox Vulpes vulpes, 87 dogs and 23 cats) in Andalusia, southern Spain, were distributed in 156 pools of monospecific flea from each carnivore, and tested for Bartonella infection in an assay based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16 S–23 S rRNA intergenic spacer region. Twenty‐one samples (13.5%) were positive and the sequence data showed the presence of four different Bartonella species. Bartonella henselae was detected in nine pools of Ctenocephalides felis from cats and dogs and in three pools of Ctenocephalides canis from cats; Bartonella clarridgeiae in Ctenocephalides felis from a cat, and Bartonella alsatica in Spilopsyllus cuniculi from a wildcat. DNA of Bartonella sp., closely related to Bartonella rochalimae, was found in seven pools of Pulex irritans from foxes. This is the first detection of B. alsatica and Bartonella sp. in the Iberian Peninsula. All of these Bartonella species have been implicated as agents of human diseases. The present survey confirms that carnivores are major reservoirs for Bartonella spp.     

SPATIAL PATTERN ANALYSIS OF XENOPSYLLA CHEOPIS (SIPHONAPTERA:PULICIDAE) ON ITS DOMINANT RAT HOST,RATTUS FLAVIPECTUS IN THE FOCI OF HUMAN PLAGUE IN YUNNAN,CHINA*

Abstract Xenopsylla chewpis is the main transmitting vector of plague in the foci of human plague in Yunnan China, where its dominant rat host is Rattus flavipectus Spatial distribution pattern of X. cheopis among the individuals of R fluvipectus is studied. Iwao's linear regression method and a significance test of random deviation for the method were used. in the light of Iwao's method, a regression model was established. The model is M =α+βM = 4.0064 + 2.0153M where both α and β are considerably higher than 0 and 1 respectively, the border values for determining spatial pattern of populations. The calculated F value is 4, 5892 (P<0.05) in the significance test of random deviation. The spatial pattern of X. cheopis among the individuals of its dominant host R flavipectus is of an aggregate distribution. The aggregated distribution pattern means that the flea individuals do not evenly distribute on rat host but gather as different size groups on rat individuals. This uneven distribution further suggests that the transmitting opportunity is not always the same even if the frequency of contacting the same species of infected rat, R flavipectus is the same.     

中国云南人间鼠疫流行区印鼠客蚤在其主要宿主黄胸鼠体表的空间分布格局研究(英文)

中国云南人间鼠疫流行区的主要鼠疫传播媒介是印鼠客蚤。其主要宿主为黄胸鼠。应用Iwao方法及其随机偏离度检验 ,对印鼠客蚤在黄胸鼠的不同个体间的空间分布格局进行了研究。根据Iwao方法建立的印鼠客蚤直线回归模型为 :M =α βM =4 0 0 6 4 2 0 153M ,其中的α和 β均明显高于空间分布判定的界线值 0和 1,经随机偏离度检验 ,F =4 5892 ,P <0 0 5。结合α ,β值及随机偏离度检验结果 ,印鼠客蚤在其主要宿主黄胸鼠体表的空间分布型被判定为聚集型分布。印鼠客蚤这种聚集型分布意味着该蚤的个体分布不均匀 ,而是在宿主动物体表形成大小不等的聚集蚤群。印鼠客蚤在黄胸鼠不同个体间的这种不均匀分布提示 :即使接触同一种染疫鼠类动物 ,因鼠体蚤分布极不均匀 ,其传播机会是不均等的。     

Reproductive success of cat fleas,Ctenocephalides felis,on calves as unusual hosts

Abstract. Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, were released onto calves as unusual hosts, and sampled at intervals for histological examination. Egg output from fleas on age-matched male and female calves was monitored. Using indicators of reproductive maturation and regression together with egg output data, the reproductive success and fertility of cat fleas on male and female calves were estimated. Comparisons were made with fleas taken from cats. The mean egg output of fleas on the bull calf was highly significantly different from that on the age-matched female calf: 28.14 ± 2.96 (SE) eggs/h compared with 16.21 ± 1.96 (SE) eggs/h. A higher proportion of sampled fleas (83.0%) was reproductively mature on the feline hosts compared with the calves (45.4-62.5%). Blue bodies resulting from oocyte resorption were present in the ovarioles of 10.4-19.0% of fleas sampled from the calves. No blue bodies were present in fleas removed from cats. Eggs laid by fleas on calves were viable and larvae were reared to adulthood. The mean percentage hatching success on the age-matched male and female calves was 46.7% and 51.7%. This represents a reduction in viability of 28-33% compared with eggs laid by fleas on cats. Factors which may account for reduced reproductive maturation of fleas on calves, including protein content of the host's blood, are discussed.