Bartonella clarridgeiae in fleas, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Molecular screening of Ctenocephalides felis fleas collected from stray cats in the Jerusalem District, Israel, for Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii

Four hundred and sixty seven Ctenocephalides felis fleas removed from 185 feral cats living in residential areas of Jerusalem, Israel, were screened for bacterial infections of public health importance. The fleas were screened for bartonellae, rickettsiae and Coxiella burnetii by PCR and sequencing. Bartonella DNA was detected in 156 individual fleas collected from 91 of the 185 (49.2%) cats. DNA of Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella koehlerae was detected in 112/467 (24%), 29/467 (6.2%) and 15/467 (3.2%), respectively, indicating a significantly different distribution (P<0.00001) of these Bartonella spp. among the fleas. However, no differences were observed between female and male fleas in their Bartonella-infection status (P>0.05). Ninety one individual cats carried fleas infected with 1 to 3 Bartonella species. No differences were found between fleas collected from male and female, pregnant and non-pregnant or young, juvenile and adult cats. Interestingly, a significant association was observed between the clinical status of the cat hosts (apparently healthy versus sick) and the carriage of Bartonella-positive fleas. One of the 467 (0.2%) fleas was positive for Rickettsia felis DNA and no other Rickettsia spp. or C. burnetii DNA were detected. Our findings indicate a relatively high prevalence of Bartonella spp. known to be human pathogens, and low prevalence of R. felis in fleas from the Jerusalem district cats, highlighting the abundance and importance of bartonellae for public health in this urban region.

Absence of antibodies to Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in Tahiti, French Polynesia

BACKGROUND

In the Pacific islands countries and territories, very little is known about the incidence of infectious diseases due to zoonotic pathogens. To our knowledge, human infections due to Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia spp. and Bartonella spp. have never been reported in French Polynesia; and infections due to C. burnetti have been reported worldwide except in New Zealand. To evaluate the prevalence of this disease, we conducted a serosurvey among French Polynesian blood donors.

METHODS

The presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against R. felis, R. typhi, R. conorii, C. burnetii, B. henselae, B. quintana, and E. chaffeensis was evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay in sera from 472 French Polynesian blood donors collected from 2011 to 2013. In addition, 178 ticks and 36 cat fleas collected in French Polynesia were also collected and tested by polymerase chain reaction to detect Rickettsia spp., B. henselae and Ehrlichia spp.

RESULTS

None of the blood donors had antibodies at a significant level against Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia spp. and Bartonella spp. All tested ticks and cat fleas were PCR-negative for Rickettsia spp., B. henselae, and Ehrlichia spp.

CONCLUSION

We cannot conclude that these pathogens are absent in French Polynesia but, if present, their prevalence is probably very low. C. burnetii has been reported worldwide except in New Zealand. It may also be absent from French Polynesia.