| a molecular survey of rickettsia felis in fleas from cats and dogs in sicily (southern italy). | rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever, has a cosmopolitan distribution. its pathogenic role in humans has been demonstrated through molecular and serologic tests in several cases. the cat flea (ctenocephalides felis) is considered the main reservoir and the biological vector. the aim of this study was to assess the presence and occurrence of r. felis in fleas collected from dogs and cats in various sites of palermo (sicily). between august and october 2012, 134 fleas were colle ... | 2014 | 25203839 |
| a molecular survey of anaplasma spp., rickettsia spp., ehrlichia canis and babesia microti in foxes and fleas from sicily. | fleas (insecta: siphonaptera) are obligate bloodsucking insects, which parasitize birds and mammals, and are distributed throughout the world. several species have been implicated in pathogen transmission. this study aimed to monitor red foxes and the fleas isolated from them in the palermo and ragusa provinces of sicily, italy, as these organisms are potential reservoirs and vectors of pathogens. thirteen foxes (vulpes vulpes) and 110 fleas were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) to de ... | 2013 | 24589112 |