| murine typhus: updated roles of multiple urban components and a second typhuslike rickettsia. | studies using serologic and polymerase chain reaction-(pcr) facilitated analysis of field samples from southern texas indicate the presence of rickettsia typhi and elb agent infected cat fleas, ctenocephalides felis (bouché), and the first observation of elb infected vertebrates (opossums). the elb agent is a recently described typhus-like rickettsia that is not distinguished from r. typhi or r. prowazekii by currently available serologic reagents. restriction digests of pcr products from 399 fl ... | 1994 | 7966170 |
| urban focus of rickettsia typhi and rickettsia felis in los angeles, california. | abstract classic murine typhus, caused by rickettsia typhi, is endemic in the continental united states in areas of texas and southern california. we conducted an environmental investigation in an urban area of los angeles identified as the probable exposure site for a case of murine typhus. four rattus norvegicus heavily infested with xenopsylla cheopis (average 32.5 fleas per animal, range 20-42) were trapped, and fleas, blood, and tissues were collected. dnas from all specimens were tested fo ... | 2010 | 21142968 |
| murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. | murine typhus, an acute febrile illness caused by rickettsia typhi, is distributed worldwide. mainly transmitted by the fleas of rodents, it is associated with cities and ports where urban rats (rattus rattus and rattus norvegicus) are abundant. in the united states, cases are concentrated in suburban areas of texas and california. contrary to the classic rat-flea-rat cycle, the most important reservoirs of infection in these areas are opossums and cats. the cat flea, ctenocephalides felis, has ... | 2008 | 18260783 |