We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
INFECTION BY Rickettsia felis IN OPOSSUMS (Didelphis sp.) FROM YUCATAN, MEXICO.
- Authors
PENICHE-LARA, Gaspar; RUIZ-PIÑA, Hugo A.; REYES-NOVELO, Enrique; DZUL-ROSADO, Karla; ZAVALA-CASTRO, Jorge
- Abstract
Rickettsia felis is an emergent pathogen and the causative agent of a typhus-like rickettsiosis in the Americas. Its transmission cycle involves fleas as biological vectors (mainly Ctenocephalides felis) and multiple domestic and synanthropic mammal hosts. Nonetheless, the role of mammals in the cycle of R. felis is not well understood and many efforts are ongoing in different countries of America to clarify it. The present study describes for the first time in Mexico the infection of two species of opossum (Didelphis virginiana and D. marsupialis) by R. felis. A diagnosis was carried out from blood samples by molecular methods through the gltA and 17 kDa genes and sequence determination. Eighty-seven opossum samples were analyzed and 28 were found to be infected (32.1%) from five out of the six studied localities of Yucatan. These findings enable recognition of the potential epidemiological implications for public health of the presence of infected synanthropic Didelphis in households.
- Subjects
DISEASE vectors; RICKETTSIA felis; RICKETTSIAL diseases; DIDELPHIS marsupialis; VIRGINIA opossum; ETIOLOGY of diseases; INFECTIOUS disease transmission
- Publication
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, 2016, Vol 58, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
0036-4665
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1590/S1678-9946201658032