Presence of Rickettsia felis in the Cat Flea from Southwestern Europe

Abstract

Rickettsia felis, formerly called ELB agent, was identified by using molecular biology techniques in the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) from southwestern Spain. For the first time this flea-transmitted rickettsia has been detected within its vector in Eurasia.

Keywords

• Rickettsia
• cat flea
• Ctenocephalides
• Spain
• PCR
• sequencing