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Macroparasite communities in stray cat populations from urban cities in Peninsular Malaysia

Mohd Zain SN, Sahimin N, Pal P, Lewis JW

Vet Parasitol, 2013 Sep 23;196(3-4):469-77.
PMID: 23664711 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.03.030

The occurrence of macroparasites was studied from 543 stray cats in four urban cities from the west (Kuala Lumpur), east (Kuantan), north (Georgetown) and south (Malacca) of Peninsular Malaysia from May 2007 to August 2010. Five ectoparasites species were recovered namely, Ctenocephalides felis, Felicola subrostratus, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Heterodoxus spiniger and Lynxacarus radovskyi. Two cats from Georgetown were infested with the dog louse, H. spiniger and this represented the first host record for this species in Malaysia. Up to nine species of helminths were recovered with overall high prevalences of infection of 83% in Kuantan, followed by 75.1% in Kuala Lumpur, 71.6% in Georgetown and 68% in Malacca. The helminth species comprised five nematodes, Toxocara malaysiensis, Toxocara cati, Ancylostoma braziliensis, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Physaloptera praeputialis, two cestodes Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum and one trematode, Playtnosomum fastosum. The majority of helminths were present in the four study sites except for the absence of P. praeputialis in Kuala Lumpur. The prevalence and abundance of infections were analysed taking intrinsic (host age and sex) and extrinsic (season) factors into consideration. Levels of infection and infestation were mainly influenced by host age and to a lesser extent sex and season, whereas four nematode species exhibited significant interactions within the intestine of the cat host. The potential for transmission of some macroparasite species from stray cats to the human population in urban areas is discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Risk factors associated with flea infestation on cats

Azrizal-Wahid N, Sofian-Azirun M, Low VL

Trop Biomed, 2019 Dec 01;36(4):810-821.
PMID: 33597453

Fleas are the common cause of skin disorders in cats. They are well-known for transmitting various pathogens to both cats and humans. Accordingly, this study was conducted to gain insights on the risk factors associated with flea infestation on cats. Flea combing conducted on 426 cats from four distinct regions in Peninsular Malaysia revealed a relatively high rate of flea infestation on 306 cats (71.83%). A total of 651 fleas were collected, all of them were identified as Ctenocephalides felis with the total intensity of 2.13 and abundance of 1.53. The sex ratio of fleas was female-biased at 2.5:1 (♀=464, ♂=187). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that flea infestation was significantly (P<0.05) associated with several risk factors including region, age, weight, status (stray, sheltered, pet), body condition, and hair length. Higher flea prevalence was also observed in female cats (77.99%), big-sized cats (91.76%), stray cats (84.94%), cats with clean body condition (73.35%), and cats with long hairs (78.38%) as compared to their contemporaries within the same comparison variables. The high infestation of fleas in this study is indicative of cats as a flea reservoir particularly C. felis. Thus the findings of this study and the knowledge gained on the risk factors can be used to develop and improve control measures and management of flea infestations.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Gastrointestinal parasites in rural dogs and cats in Selangor and Pahang states in Peninsular Malaysia

Ngui R, Lee SC, Yap NJ, Tan TK, Aidil RM, Chua KH, et al.

Acta Parasitol, 2014 Oct;59(4):737-44.
PMID: 25236287 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-014-0306-3

To estimate the current prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in dogs and cats, a total of 105 fresh faecal samples were collected from rural areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Each faecal sample was examined for the presence of GI parasites by microscopic examination after formalin-ether concentration technique and for protozoa, trichrome and Ziehl-Neelsen staining were employed. The overall prevalence of GI parasitic infection was 88.6% (95% CI = 82.5-94.7) in which 88.3% of dogs and 89.3% of cats were infected with at least one parasites species, respectively. There were 14 different GI parasites species (nematodes, cestodes and protozoa) detected, including Ancylostoma spp. (62.9%), Toxocara spp. (32.4%), Trichuris vulpis (21.0%), Spirometra spp. (9.5%), Toxascaris leonina (5.7%), Dipylidium caninum (4.8%), Ascaris spp. (2.9%), Hymenolepis diminuta (1.0%) and others. General prevalence of GI parasites showed a significant difference between helminth (84.4%) and protozoa (34.3%) infections. Monoparasitism (38.1%) was less frequent than polyparasitism (46.7%). As several of these GI parasites are recognized as zoonotic agents, the results of this investigation revealed that local populations may be exposed to a broad spectrum of zoonotic agents by means of environmental contamination with dogs and cats faeces and this information should be used to mitigate public health risks. Prevention and control measures have to be taken in order to reduce the prevalence rates especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where animals live in close proximity to people, poor levels of hygiene and overcrowding together with a lack in veterinary attention and zoonotic awareness.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Toxocara malaysiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) from the domestic cat (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758)

Gibbons LM, Jacobs DE, Sani RA

J Parasitol, 2001 Jun;87(3):660-5.
PMID: 11426732

Toxocara malaysiensis n. sp. from the small intestine of the domestic cat (Felis catus L.) in Malaysia is described and illustrated. This ascaridoid nematode was previously assumed to be Toxocara canis, which it superficially resembles, or designated Toxocara sp. cf. canis. The new species differs from T. canis in the shape of the cervical alae in cross section, spicule length, and the lip structure. It is also distinct from other species assigned to Toxocara.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
A survey of the prevalence of Lynxacarus radovskyi in cats in Malaysia

Han HS

Vet Dermatol, 2015 Feb;26(1):68.
PMID: 25216391 DOI: 10.1111/vde.12177
Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae) infestation in two Malaysian cats treated with oral lotilaner

Han HS, Yasmin L

Vet Dermatol, 2020 Aug;31(4):335-e87.
PMID: 32323413 DOI: 10.1111/vde.12855

The most common fly species associated with screwworm myiasis in Southeast Asia is Chrysomya bezziana (Ch. bezziana), the Old-World screwworm. Treatment of screwworm myiasis in cats traditionally has comprised subcutaneous injection of ivermectin or oral administration of nitenpyram, combined with aggressive tissue debridement and larval removal under general anaesthesia. Two cats diagnosed with cutaneous myiasis caused by the larvae of Ch. bezziana were treated with lotilaner. In both cats, a single dose of lotilaner at 6-26 mg/kg, killed all larvae within 24 h, negating the need for general anaesthesia. Both cats were simultaneously infested with Lynxacarus radovskyi (L. radovskyi) which also was eradicated with lotilaner. No adverse reactions were observed and both cats recovered without complications.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Fulltext The cat fur mite, Lynxacarus radovskyi Tenorio, 1974 (Acarina: Astigmata: Listrophoridae) from cat, Felis catus in peninsular Malaysia

Jeffery J, Norhidayu S, Mohd Zain SN, Noor Hayati MI, Nurazila B

Trop Biomed, 2012 Jun;29(2):308-10.
PMID: 22735855 MyJurnal

The cat fur mite, Lynxacarus radovskyi Tenorio, 1974 (Acarina: Astigmata: Listrophoridae) is reported from cats, Felis catus from three sites in peninsular Malaysia. The first site is a Malay village, Kampong Menteri in Taiping, Perak, where the mites were found on local pet cats. The other two sites are urban cities of Kuala Lumpur, in the Federal Territory and Georgetown, in the island of Penang. Mites from the urban areas were collected from stray cats. Although several ectoparasites (fleas, mites, ticks and lice) have been previously reported, L. radovskyi is recorded herein for the first time on cats from peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Fulltext Armigeres subalbatus incriminated as a vector of zoonotic Brugia pahangi filariasis in suburban Kuala Lumpur, Peninsular Malaysia

Muslim A, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Lau YL, Sivanandam S

Parasit Vectors, 2013;6:219.
PMID: 23898840 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-219

In 2011, we reported occurrence of natural human infections with Brugia pahangi, a filarial worm of dogs and cats, in a surburb of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. Our preliminary entomological survey at that time suggested the mosquito species Armigeres subalbatus as the vector of the zoonotic infections. In this present report, we provide biological evidence to confirm our preliminary finding.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
The occurrence of Toxocara malaysiensis in cats in China, confirmed by sequence-based analyses of ribosomal DNA

Li MW, Zhu XQ, Gasser RB, Lin RQ, Sani RA, Lun ZR, et al.

Parasitol Res, 2006 Oct;99(5):554-7.
PMID: 16636846

Non-isotopic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analyses of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were utilized to genetically characterise ascaridoids from dogs and cats from China by comparison with those from other countries. The study showed that Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, and Toxascaris leonina from China were genetically the same as those from other geographical origins. Specimens from cats from Guangzhou, China, which were morphologically consistent with Toxocara malaysiensis, were the same genetically as those from Malaysia, with the exception of a polymorphism in the ITS-2 but no unequivocal sequence difference. This is the first report of T. malaysiensis in cats outside of Malaysia (from where it was originally described), supporting the proposal that this species has a broader geographical distribution. The molecular approach employed provides a powerful tool for elucidating the biology, epidemiology, and zoonotic significance of T. malaysiensis.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Canine and feline cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in Malaysia: clinical aspects in 76 cases

Han HS, Toh PY, Yoong HB, Loh HM, Tan LL, Ng YY

Vet Dermatol, 2018 Oct;29(5):442-e148.
PMID: 30066413 DOI: 10.1111/vde.12672

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in companion animals either due to the New World screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax or the Old World screw-worm, Chrysomya bezziana, has been reported particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although treatment of screw-worm myiasis in dogs has been described, few studies have been conducted regarding its clinical and epidemiological aspects in companion animals.
OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical and epidemiological aspects of canine and feline screw-worm myiasis.
ANIMALS: Naturally infested dogs and cats, presented to five veterinary clinics in four Malaysian states from September 2017 to February 2018.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Cutaneous screw-worm myiasis was diagnosed based on clinical signs and visual examination of burrowing larvae within lesion. Age, breed, gender, anatomical site of infestation and suspected underlying predisposing causes were investigated.
RESULTS: A total of 55 dogs and 21 cats were included in the study. Intact male mixed breed dogs (mean age 58 months) and intact male domestic short hair cats (mean age 24 months) with suspected fight-related wounds were most commonly presented with exudative and ulcerative lesions associated with screw-worm myiasis. The most common anatomical sites of infestation in the dogs were the external ear canals, followed by the perineum and medial canthus. For the cats, the most commonly affected areas were paws and tail. Five cats with screw-worm myiasis were concurrently infected with sporotrichosis.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Aggression between unneutered animals is a likely underlying cause for cutaneous screw-worm myiasis in both cats and dogs. Sporotrichosis was also a potential predisposing cause for screw-worm myiasis in cats.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Fulltext Vector and reservoir host of a case of human Brugia pahangi infection in Selangor, peninsular Malaysia

Muslim A, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Sivanandam S

Trop Biomed, 2013 Dec;30(4):727-30.
PMID: 24522144 MyJurnal

A case of human eye infection caused by Brugia pahangi was reported in 2010 in a semi rural village in Selangor, peninsular Malaysia. Our report here reveals results of investigation on the vector and animal host for the transmission of the infection. We conducted entomological survey and cat blood examination in the vicinity of the patient's home. The mosquito species Armigeres subalbatus was incriminated as the vector, whereas cat served as the reservoir host.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Fulltext The dog louse Heterodoxus spiniger from stray cats in Penang, Malaysia

Norhidayu S, Mohd Zain SN, Jeffery J, Lewis JW

Trop Biomed, 2012 Jun;29(2):301-3.
PMID: 22735853 MyJurnal

Stray cats collected from Georgetown, Penang from 2008 to 2010 were screened for ectoparasites via fine-tooth combing. Two cats from a total 102 examined were infested with the dog louse, Heterodoxus spiniger. Both cats, a juvenile male and female were found in close contact with each other prior to capture. The number of lice ranged from 5 and 14 in the male and female cat respectively. Other ectoparasites recovered included the common cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, one louse species Felicola subrostratus, one tick species Haemaphysalis bispinosa and one mite species of Listrophoridae. The present study reports for the first time the finding of H. spiniger on cats from peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Fulltext Acanthamoeba genotype T4 detected in naturally-infected feline corneas found to be in homology with those causing human keratitis

Ithoi I, Mahmud R, Abdul Basher MH, Jali A, Abdulsalam AM, Ibrahim J, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2013 Mar;30(1):131-40.
PMID: 23665719 MyJurnal

A total of 10 out of 65 cornea swab samples from cats with eye symptoms showed Acanthamoeba-like morphology after cultivation. By PCR and DNA sequencing of Acanthamoeba diagnostic fragment 3 (DF3), all 10 isolates from the positive samples were categorized into two homologous groups of AfC1 (PM1, PM2, PM3, PF6, KM7, KF8, KMK9) and AfC2 (PM4, PM5, KFK10) due to the presence of bases A(354) and G(354), respectively. Furthermore, DF3 of AfC1 and AfC2 showed 100% similarity with Genbank reference isolates with the accession numbers DQ087314, EU146073 and U07401, GU808323, which were Acanthamoeba castellanii strains genotype T4 originating from human keratitis. This finding suggests that A. castellani strains have the capability to infect cats and human under favorable conditions.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Pathogens in ectoparasites from free-ranging animals: Infection with Rickettsia asembonensis in ticks, and a potentially new species of Dipylidium in fleas and lice

Low VL, Prakash BK, Tan TK, Sofian-Azirun M, Anwar FHK, Vinnie-Siow WY, et al.

Vet Parasitol, 2017 Oct 15;245:102-105.
PMID: 28969827 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.08.015

Vector-borne infections are persistent public health threats worldwide. In recent years, a number of mosquito-borne viruses have emerged or re-emerged to cause major disease outbreaks. Other vector-borne pathogens, however, remain understudied and much neglected especially in the developing regions of the world including Southeast Asia. In this study, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, cat louse Felicola subrostratus, and cat fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides orientis collected from free-ranging cats and dogs in Malaysia were molecularly screened for the presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria, and Dipylidium tapeworm. Our results showed the presence of Bartonella clarridgeiea, Bartonella henselae (lineage Marseille and lineage Houston-1), and Rickettsia sp. in C. felis. We also detected Rickettsia asembonensis in C. orientis and R. sanguineus s.l. Additionally, this study provides the first documentation on a potentially new species of Dipylidium infecting F. subrostratus and C. felis. Our results highlight the role of ectoparasites from free-ranging animals including cats and dogs, in harboring multiple transmissible pathogens.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Molecular characterization of a Toxocara variant from cats in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Zhu XQ, Jacobs DE, Chilton NB, Sani RA, Cheng NA, Gasser RB

Parasitology, 1998 Aug;117 ( Pt 2):155-64.
PMID: 9778638

The ascaridoid nematode of cats from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, previously identified morphologically as Toxocara canis, was characterized using a molecular approach. The nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region spanning the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1), the 5.8S gene and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) was amplified and sequenced. The sequences for the parasite from Malaysian cats were compared with those for T. canis and T. cati. The sequence data showed that this taxon was genetically more similar to T. cati than to T. canis in the ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2. Differences in the ITS-1 and ITS-2 sequences between the taxa (9.4-26.1%) were markedly higher than variation between samples within T. canis and T. cati (0-2.9%). The sequence data demonstrate that the parasite from Malaysian cats is neither T. canis nor T. cati and indicate that it is a distinct species. Based on these data, PCR-linked restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) methods were employed for the unequivocal differentiation of the Toxocara variant from T. canis and T. cati. These methods should provide valuable tools for studying the life-cycle, transmission pattern(s) and zoonotic potential of this parasite.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Sarcocystis booliati n.sp. and a parasite of undetermined taxonomic position, Octoplasma garnhami n. gen. n. sp., from the moonrat, Echinosorex gymnurus

Dissanaike AS, Poopalachelvam M

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1975 Jun;6(2):175-85.
PMID: 809845

Sarcocystis booliati n.sp. is described from the moonrat Echinosorex gymnurus (Mammalia, Insectivora) from West Malaysia. The cysts are very thin-walled, not visible to the naked eye, and have no trabeculae or cytophaneres. They are found in skeletal but not heart muscle. The zoites are small, 5-8 by 2-3 mum with a mean of 6.5 by 2.2 mum, in dry fixed smears. Octoplasma garnhami n.gen. n.sp., a parasite of undetermined taxonomic status but belonging to the Coccidiasina, Apicomplexa, is also described from the same host. Only schizononts and pseudocysts with typically 8 zoites, have so far been seen in monocytes of the spleen and liver. The zoites are large, 15 by 3 mum and have a distinct nucleolus even in dry-fixed smears.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Molecular investigation on the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat feces using TOX-element and ITS-1 region targets

Chemoh W, Sawangjaroen N, Nissapatorn V, Sermwittayawong N

Vet J, 2016 Sep;215:118-22.
PMID: 27325616 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.05.018

One of the most important routes of transmission for Toxoplasma gondii infection is the ingestion of foods contaminated with cat feces containing sporulated oocysts. The diagnosis of T. gondii infection by fecal microscopy is complicated, as other similar coccidian oocysts are often present in the same fecal specimen. This study aimed to identify T. gondii oocysts in cat feces using a novel PCR technique. Feline fecal specimens (n = 254) were screened for coccidian oocysts by light microscopy using the Sheather's flotation method. PCR analysis performed on the same specimens targeted a 529 bp repeat element and internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) regions were used to confirm the presence of Toxoplasma oocysts. By light microscopy, 49/254 (19.3%) of specimens contained coccidian oocysts. PCR analysis demonstrated 2/254 (0.8%) and 17/254 (6.7%) positive results using Tox and ITS-1 primers, respectively. However, coccidian oocysts were not identified on microscopic examination of specimens that were PCR-positive by Tox primers. Coccidian oocysts were identified on microscopic examination of 6/17 (35.3%) of the PCR-positive fecal specimens using ITS-1 primers. The BLAST results of 16 ITS-1 sequences were identified as T. gondii (n = 12; 4.7%) and Hammondia hammondi (n = 4; 1.6%). There was slight agreement between the 529 bp and ITS-1 PCR results (κ = 0.148). This is the first report of the detection of Toxoplasma oocysts using PCR analysis on feline fecal specimens from Southern Thailand. The ITS-1 region has potential as an alternative marker to identify T. gondii oocysts in feline fecal specimens.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Fulltext Epidemiological and genetic data supporting the transmission of Ancylostoma ceylanicum among human and domestic animals

Ngui R, Lim YA, Traub R, Mahmud R, Mistam MS

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2012;6(2):e1522.
PMID: 22347515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001522

BACKGROUND: Currently, information on species-specific hookworm infection is unavailable in Malaysia and is restricted worldwide due to limited application of molecular diagnostic tools. Given the importance of accurate identification of hookworms, this study was conducted as part of an ongoing molecular epidemiological investigation aimed at providing the first documented data on species-specific hookworm infection, associated risk factors and the role of domestic animals as reservoirs for hookworm infections in endemic communities of Malaysia.
METHODS/FINDINGS: A total of 634 human and 105 domestic canine and feline fecal samples were randomly collected. The overall prevalence of hookworm in humans and animals determined via microscopy was 9.1% (95% CI = 7.0-11.7%) and 61.9% (95% CI = 51.2-71.2%), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that participants without the provision of proper latrine systems (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.53-8.00; p = 0.003), walking barefooted (OR = 5.6; 95% CI = 2.91-10.73; p<0.001) and in close contact with pets or livestock (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.19-7.15; p = 0.009) were more likely to be infected with hookworms. Molecular analysis revealed that while most hookworm-positive individuals were infected with Necator americanus, Ancylostoma ceylanicum constituted 12.8% of single infections and 10.6% mixed infections with N. americanus. As for cats and dogs, 52.0% were positive for A. ceylanicum, 46.0% for Ancylostoma caninum and 2.0% for Ancylostoma braziliense and all were single infections.
CONCLUSION: This present study provided evidence based on the combination of epidemiological, conventional diagnostic and molecular tools that A. ceylanicum infection is common and that its transmission dynamic in endemic areas in Malaysia is heightened by the close contact of human and domestic animal (i.e., dogs and cats) populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology
Levels of Ancylostoma infections and phylogenetic analysis of cox 1 gene of A. ceylanicum in stray cat faecal samples from Guangzhou, China

Hu W, Yu XG, Wu S, Tan LP, Song MR, Abdulahi AY, et al.

J Helminthol, 2016 Jul;90(4):392-7.
PMID: 26123649 DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X15000413

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is a common zoonotic nematode. Cats act as natural reservoirs of the hookworm and are involved in transmitting infection to humans, thus posing a potential risk to public health. The prevalence of feline A. ceylanicum in Guangzhou (South China) was surveyed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In total, 112 faecal samples were examined; 34.8% (39/112) and 43.8% (49/112) samples were positive with hookworms by microscopy and PCR method, respectively. Among them, 40.8% of samples harboured A. ceylanicum. Twelve positive A. ceylanicum samples were selected randomly and used for cox 1 sequence analysis. Sequencing results revealed that they had 97-99% similarity with A. ceylanicum cox 1 gene sequences deposited in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree showed that A. ceylanicum isolates were divided into two groups: one comprising four isolates from Guangzhou (South China), and the other comprising those from Malaysia, Cambodia and Guangzhou. In the latter group, all A. ceylanicum isolates from Guangzhou were clustered into a minor group again. The results indicate that the high prevalence of A. ceylanicum in stray cats in South China poses a potential risk of hookworm transmission from pet cats to humans, and that A. ceylanicum may be a species complex worldwide.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*
Fulltext Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis, Bartonella henselae, and B. clarridgeiae in fleas from domestic dogs and cats in Malaysia

Mokhtar AS, Tay ST

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2011 Nov;85(5):931-3.
PMID: 22049052 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0634

The presence of Rickettsia felis, Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae in 209 fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) obtained from domestic cats and dogs in several locations in Malaysia was investigated in this study. Using a polymerase chain reaction specific for the citrate synthase (gltA) and 17-kD antigenic protein (17kD) genes of rickettsiae, we detected R. felis DNA in 6 (2.9%) fleas. For detection of bartonellae, amplification of the heme-binding protein (pap31) and riboflavin synthase (ribC) genes identified B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae DNA in 24 (11.5%) and 40 (19.1%) fleas, respectively. The DNA of B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae was detected in 10 (4.8%) fleas. Two B. henselae genogroups (Marseille and Houston-1) were detected in this study; genogroup Marseille (genotype Fizz) was found more often in the fleas. The findings in this study suggest fleas as potential vectors of rickettsioses and cat-scratch disease in this country.

Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology*

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