Abstract
PurposeFleas are insects with a high medical and veterinary importance. They may participate in spreading of many pathogenic agents, but still there is limited information about their possible reservoir or vector role for protozoans. The main aim of this study was an attempt of detection zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia microti and Toxoplasma gondii in fleas Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides canis.MethodsIn 2013–2017, 155 fleas were captured from domestic dogs and cats in veterinary clinics, animal shelters and pet grooming salons in Upper Silesia Region in Poland. Then, the DNA was extracted from each Ctenocephalides flea by using the ammonia method. Samples were screened for the presence of B. microti and T. gondii using PCR and nested PCR methods.ResultsB. microti was reported in 6.6% of C. felis felis and 9.1% of C. canis, whereas the prevalence of coinfection with B. microti and T. gondii was 1.9% in cat fleas and 2.3% in dog fleas.ConclusionThis study shows the first cases of B. microti occurrence and B. microti and T. gondii coinfection in Ctenocephalides fleas. The estimation of prevalence of examined protozoans may be useful considering the possibility of infection among companion animals, as well as during presentation of the potential risk of infection in humans. In order to clarify the role of C. felis felis and C. canis in transmission of B. microti and T. gondii, the another studies with in vitro cultures and laboratory animals are needed.
Highlights
Fleas are insects with a high medical and veterinary significance
The species examined in this study, cat flea— Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) and dog flea— Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826) are among the most
The most numerous flea species caught from population of domestic dogs was C. felis felis (52.81%), C. canis, P. irritans and A. erinacei (Table 1)
Summary
Fleas are insects with a high medical and veterinary significance. Their bites usually cause an irritation and allergic reactions. They may transmit many pathogenic agents with zoonotic capacity, like Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, as well as species from the Rickettsia and Bartonella types [1, 2]. Epidemiological studies about flea prevalence on pets have been limited in Poland [7, 8]. The occurrence of fleas in populations of domestic animals and the prevalence of zoonotic species in examined specimens are occasionally described in foreign reports [9,10,11]. There is no information about the detection or possibility of Babesia microti and Toxoplasma gondii transmission by fleas
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