@article{PAR00011613,
  title = {{A}cquisition and excretion of {B}artonella quintana by the cat flea, {C}tenocephalides felis felis},
  author = {{K}ernif, {T}. and {L}eulmi, {H}. and {S}ocolovschi, {C}. and {B}erenger, {J}. {M}. and {L}epidi, {H}. and {B}itam, {I}. and {R}olain, {J}. {M}. and {R}aoult, {D}idier and {P}arola, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}artonella quintana is transmitted by the infected faeces of body lice. {R}ecently, this bacterium was detected in cat fleas ({C}tenocephalides felis) and in two humans with chronic adenopathy whose only risk factor was contact with cat fleas. {I}n this study, a total of 960 {C}.felis were divided into 12 groups (2 control groups and 10 infected groups) each containing 80 fleas. {T}he fleas were fed {B}.quintana-inoculated human blood at different dilutions (approximate to 3.6x10(4) - 8.4x10(9) bacteria) for 4days via an artificial membrane. {S}ubsequently, all flea groups were fed uninfected blood until day 13 postinfection (dpi). {O}n day 3 pi, {B}.quintana was detected with two specific genes by quantitative {PCR} in 60-100% of randomly chosen fleas per dilution: 52% (26/50) in the infected fleas in {T}rial 1 and 90% (45/50) of the fleas in {T}rial 2. {B}.quintana was also identified by molecular and culture assays in flea faeces. {T}he average number of {B}.quintana as determined by q{PCR} decreased until the 11th dpi and was absent in both trials at the 13th dpi. {B}acteria were localized only in the flea gastrointestinal gut by specific immunohistochemistry. {O}ur results indicate that cat fleas can acquire {B}.quintana by feeding and release viable organisms into their faeces. {T}herefore, fleas may play a role as vectors of trench fever or other clinical manifestations that are caused by {B}.quintana. {H}owever, the biological role of {C}.felis in the transmission of {B}.quintana under natural conditions is yet to be defined.},
  keywords = {acquisition ; artificial flea feeding ; cat fleas ; {B}artonella quintana ; faeces excretion ; transmission},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}olecular {E}cology},
  volume = {23},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {1204--1212},
  ISSN = {0962-1083},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1111/mec.12663},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00011613},
}