First report of Rickettsia felis in China

Abstract

Background: Rickettsia felis is a recently described flea-borne spotted fever group Rickettsia felis that is an emerging human pathogen. Although there is information on the organism from around the world, there is no information on the organism in China. Methods: We used a commercial ELISA to detect antibodies reactive against R. felis in blood samples and developed a PCR to detect the of the organism in blood samples and external parasites. Results: We found reactive antibodies in people (16%; 28/180), dogs (47%; 128/271) and cats (21%; 19/90) and positive PCRs with DNA from people (0.1%; 1/822), dogs (0.8%; 8/1,059), mice (10%; 1/10), ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus; 10%; 15/146), lice (Linognathus setosus; 16%; 6/37), fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis; 95%; 57/60) and mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis, Culex pipiens pallens; 6%; 25/428), but not from cats (0/135) or canine fecal swabs (0/43). Conclusions: This is the first report of in China where there is serological and/ or PCR evidence of the organism in previously reported [people, dogs, cats, ticks ((Rhipicephalus sanguineus), fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) and mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis, Culex pipiens pallens)] and novel species [mice and lice (Linognathus setosus)].