Detection of flea‑borne Rickettsia species in the Western Himalayan region of India.
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Date
2015-07
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Abstract
Human infections by various rickettsial species are frequently reported globally. We investigated a flea‑borne rickettsial
outbreak infecting 300 people in Western Himalayan region of India. Arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) and animal and
human blood samples from affected households were analysed by gltA and ompB genes based polymerase chain reaction
(PCR). Rat flea (Ceratophyllus fasciatus) samples were found harbouring a Rickettsia sp. Phylogenetic analysis based on
gltA gene using PHYLIP revealed that the detected Rickettsia sp. has 100% identity with SE313 and RF2125 strains of
Rickettsia sp. of flea origin from Egypt and Thai‑Myanmar border, respectively and cf1 and 5 strains from fleas and lice
from the USA. But, the nucleotide sequence of genetically variable gene ompB of R14 strain was found closely related
to cf9 strain, reported from Ctenocephalides felis fleas. These results highlight the public health importance of such
newly discovered or less recognised Rickettsia species/strains, harboured by arthropod vectors like fleas.
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Keywords
Epidemiology, polymerase chain reaction, Rattus Rickettsia, vector‑borne
Citation
Chahota R, Thakur S D, Sharma M, Mittra S. Detection of flea‑borne Rickettsia species in the Western Himalayan region of India. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2015 Jul-Sept; 33 (3): 422-425.