Seventeen percent of these cat fleas tested positive for R
Seventeen percent of these cat fleas tested positive for R. addition, serological testing of 13 cats using a group-specific IgG-ELISA Bictegravir detected antibodies against typhus group rickettsiae and spotted fever group Bictegravir rickettsiae in six (46.2%) and one (7.7%) cat, respectively. These results indicate that cats and their fleas may have played Rabbit Polyclonal to ETV6 an active role in the epidemiology of the typhus group and/or spotted fever group rickettsial disease(s) in this outbreak. Author summary Outbreaks of flea-borne rickettsiosis are rare despite the endemic status in Los Angeles County. In the spring of 2015 three human cases of flea-borne rickettsiosis among residents of a mobile home community (MHC) prompted an investigation. Fleas were found in all common areas at the MHC due to presence of flea-infested opossums and overabundant outdoor cats and dogs. The MHC was summarily abated in June 2015, and within five months, flea control and removal of animals significantly reduced the flea population. Two additional epidemiologically-linked human cases detected at the MHC were considered to have occurred before control efforts began. Molecular testing of cat fleas, immunological testing of opossums and feral cats collected at the site indicated active transmission of flea-borne rickettsiosis. This study represents the Bictegravir first flea-borne rickettsial outbreak that summary abatement approach was used to reduce its intensity. Introduction Acute febrile flea-borne rickettsial diseases are caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria and (oriental rat flea) and (cat flea); both fleas are found on many domestic and peri-domestic vertebrate hosts [1]. In recent years, additional flea transmitted has been identified in fleas and their hosts, both living in close proximity to people, warranting such rickettsial infections in humans referred to as flea-borne rickettsiosis. Unfortunately, when rickettsial infections are detected in humans the clinical diagnostic tests almost never distinguish between rickettsial speciesC(typhus groupTG) or (spotted fever group- SFG) [2]. The commonly reported flea-borne Bictegravir rickettsiosis in humans is murine typhus whose known causative agent is or other species antigen by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). In most clinical settings, rarely are paired acute and convalescent serum samples collected, and California Department of Public Health resolved this shortcoming through special guidelines that achieved confirmation of murine typhus serologically or by nucleic amplification in a single serum specimen of elevated IgG and IgM antibody reactive to or other species by IFA or DNA amplification, respectively (CDPH 2011) [3]. Consequently, laboratory confirmation of murine typhus Bictegravir may not represent true cases, but cases of flea-borne rickettsiosis. Although these cases are reported as murine typhus without identifying the actual rickettsial pathogen but for purposes of consistent reporting they are reported as murine typhus. Here we identify such cases as flea-borne rickettsiosis and attempt to determine the responsible rickettsial agent for the current outbreak. On average, there are more than 200 human cases of murine typhus reported in the United States each year. This disease is not nationally reportable, so the true number of cases is unknown [4]. In areas where this disease is endemic (California, Hawaii, and Texas), providers and clinical laboratories are mandated to report cases to their local public health departments [2,5]. In California, most of the flea-borne rickettsial disease cases occur in Los Angeles and Orange counties, but concentrated outbreaks of the disease are rare [2]. Prior to 2015, the last documented cluster of human flea-borne rickettsial disease in Los Angeles County occurred in 2009 2009 [6,7]. Over the past decade, the incidence of flea-borne rickettsial disease in Los Angeles County (LAC) has increased. In 2014, 51 cases were reported statewide [44 (86%) in LAC], 88 cases [69 (78%) in LAC] in 2015, and 90 cases [70 (78%) in LAC] in 2016. These cases in LAC occur in suburban communities through interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Since the initial discovery of in in 1990 [8,9,10], the association of with has been well-documented and the connection between zoonotic diseases and free-roaming animals has become an issue [8,9,10,11,7]. The last two decades have witnessed an increase in the recognition of new and Rickettsia senegalensis, whose distributions and host ranges appear to mimic those of [12]. Although there are no studies published concerning its ability to cause clinical illness, was recently detected in the blood of monkeys (or laboratory test (immunoglobulin M (IgM) 1:128 and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) 1:128. Additional criteria include elevated liver function tests (ALT or AST), decreased platelet counts, and proximity in time and space for epidemiological-linkage to the outbreak. Cases A, B, and C were initially tested by.