Prevalence of pathogens in fleas (Siphonaptera) in Lithuania

Abstract

Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) are common ectoparasites of mammals and birds in different habitats throughout the world. Negative effects of flea (Siphonaptera) parasitism on the host may be expressed in different ways include host blood loss, skin damage, irritating bites, response to saliva injected into the wound, and transmission of pathogens. Flea-borne pathogens (Bartonella sp., Rickettsia sp., Yersinia sp.) are widely distributed over the world, and these diseases could acquire an epidemic form due to changes in vector-host ecology. Human susceptibility to zoonotic infection is not clear due to changes in climatic conditions, increased human migration and animal transportation. In this study, we investigated fleaborne pathogens in fleas from different hosts in Lithuania. A total 13 fleas species were identified: Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Ctenophthalmus uncinatus, Ceratophyllus sciurorum, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis, Chaetopsylla globiceps, Hystrichopsylla orientalis, Megabothris turbidus, Megabothris walker, Palaeopsylla soricis, Peromyscopsylla bidentate, Nosopsyllus fasciatus. We used real-time PCR, nested-PCR, multiplex PCR and vector-borne bacteria flow chip for different pathogens (Bartonella, Rickettsia, Anapalsma and Borrelia) detection. Pathogens detected in fleas are causing zoonoses (Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella rochalimae, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella washoensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia monacensis).