Genetic characterization and transovarial transmission of a typhus-like rickettsia found in cat fleas

The identification of apparently fastidious microorganisms is often problematic. DNA from a rickettsia-like agent (called the ELB agent) present in cat fleas could be amplified by PCR with conserved primers derived from rickettsial 17-kDa common protein antigen and citrate synthase genes but not spo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1992-01, Vol.89 (1), p.43-46
Main Authors: Azad, A.F. (University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD), Sacci, J.B. Jr, Nelson, W.M, Dasch, G.A, Schmidtmann, E.T, Carl, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis
Antigens
Bacteria
Base Sequence
Cats
Cellular biology
CHAT
Citrates
CTENOCEPHALIDES FELIS
DNA
DNA, Bacterial - genetics
Fever
Fleas
GATO
GENETICA
Genetics
GENETIQUE
Molecular Sequence Data
NUCLEOTIDE
NUCLEOTIDOS
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pulicidae
Restriction Mapping
Rickettsia
Rickettsia - genetics
Rickettsia - immunology
Rickettsia Infections - diagnosis
Rickettsia Infections - transmission
RICKETTSIALES
SALUD PUBLICA
SANTE PUBLIQUE
Siphonaptera - microbiology
TRANSMISION DE ENFERMEDADES
TRANSMISSION DES MALADIES
Typhus
VECTEUR DE MALADIE
VECTORES
XENOPSYLLA CHEOPIS
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Description
Summary:The identification of apparently fastidious microorganisms is often problematic. DNA from a rickettsia-like agent (called the ELB agent) present in cat fleas could be amplified by PCR with conserved primers derived from rickettsial 17-kDa common protein antigen and citrate synthase genes but not spotted fever group 190-kDa antigen gene. Alu I sites in both the 17-kDa and citrate synthase PCR products obtained with the rickettsia-like agent and Rickettsia typhi were different even though both agents reacted with monoclonal antibodies previously thought specific for R. typhi. The DNA sequence of a portion of the 17-kDa PCR product of the rickettsia-like agent differed significantly from all known rickettsial sequences and resembled the 17-kDa sequences of typhus more than spotted fever group rickettsiae. The rare stable transovarial maintenance of this rickettsia in cat fleas has important implications for the disease potential of cat fleas.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.89.1.43