@article{fdi:010060711,
  title = {{M}olecular evidence for the presence of {R}ickettsia felis in the feces of wild-living {A}frican apes},
  author = {{K}eita, {A}. {K}. and {S}ocolovschi, {C}. and {A}huka-{M}undeke, {S}. and {R}atmanov, {P}avel and {B}utel, {C}hristelle and {A}youba, {A}hidjo and {I}nogwabini, {B}. {I}. and {M}uyembe-{T}amfum, {J}. {J}. and {M}poudi-{N}gole, {E}. and {D}elaporte, {E}ric and {P}eeters, {M}artine and {F}enollar, {F}. and {R}aoult, {D}idier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {R}ickettsia felis is a common emerging pathogen detected in mosquitoes in sub-{S}aharan {A}frica. {W}e hypothesized that, as with malaria, great apes may be exposed to the infectious bite of infected mosquitoes and release {R}. felis {DNA} in their feces. {M}ethods: {W}e conducted a study of 17 forest sites in {C}entral {A}frica, testing 1,028 fecal samples from 313 chimpanzees, 430 gorillas and 285 bonobos. {T}he presence of rickettsial {DNA} was investigated by specific quantitative real-time {PCR}. {P}ositive results were confirmed by a second {PCR} using primers and a probe targeting a specific gene for {R}. felis. {A}ll positive samples were sequenced. {R}esults: {O}verall, 113 samples (11%) were positive for the {R}ickettsia-specific glt{A} gene, including 25 (22%) that were positive for {R}. felis. {T}he citrate synthase (glt{A}) sequence and outer membrane protein {A} (omp{A}) sequence analysis indicated 99% identity at the nucleotide level to {R}. felis. {T}he 88 other samples (78%) were negative using {R}. felis-specific q{PCR} and were compatible with {R}. felis-like organisms. {C}onclusion: {F}or the first time, we detected {R}. felis in wild-living ape feces. {T}his non invasive detection of human pathogens in endangered species opens up new possibilities in the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary analysis of infectious diseases, beside {HIV} and malaria.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE} {CENTRALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {O}ne},
  volume = {8},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {e54679},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0054679},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060711},
}