Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand

Pornkamol Phoosangwalthong; Sze Fui Hii; Ketsarin Kamyingkird; Chanya Kengradomkij; Nongnuch Pinyopanuwat; Wissanuwat Chimnoi; Rebecca J. Traub; Tawin Inpankaew

doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.07.001

Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand

Pornkamol Phoosangwalthong, Sze Fui Hii, Ketsarin Kamyingkird, Chanya Kengradomkij, Nongnuch Pinyopanuwat, Wissanuwat Chimnoi, Rebecca J. Traub, Tawin Inpankaew^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria and the cause of flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF), an emerging zoonosis of global public health importance, for which dogs and cats have been implicated as potential mammalian reservoirs hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for R. felis-like species in semi-domesticated cats and their fleas in aim of understanding public health risks posed by cats and their fleas in Bangkok, Thailand. Single whole blood samples (n = 432) and where observed, fleas (n = 234), were collected from cats from 53 temple communities in Bangkok. Fleas were morphologically and genetically identified to a species level. Cat blood and fleas were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the partial outer membrane protein B (ompB). Those that were positive, were further characterised using an R. felis-specific nested PCR targeting the partial citrate synthase A (gltA) gene. All fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis. In total SFG Rickettsiae were detected in the blood of 82/482 (17.01%) cats and 3/234 fleas (1.28%). DNA sequencing of the partial ompB characterised all positive amplicons from cat blood and their fleas as 100% identical to Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ctenocephalides felis orientis isolate (Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125) and Rickettsia asemboensis (GenBank accession no. KP256362 and KY650699, respectively). The gltA gene targeting R. felis was successfully amplified from 12/82 PCR-positive cat blood samples and these clustered with 99% bootstrap support with isolates within the Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 clade. Cats that were permitted to roam freely inside monasteries were more likely to be infected with R. felis compared with cats confined indoors. The results suggest that cats in Thailand are potential mammalian reservoir hosts for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125. © 2018

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	188-192
Journal	Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports
Volume	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.07.001
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2018
Externally published	Yes

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Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Research Keywords

Bangkok
Fleas
PCR
Rickettsia felis
Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125
Stray cats

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@article{5717b6fcab034fbc9516abffef233820,

title = "Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand",

abstract = "Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria and the cause of flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF), an emerging zoonosis of global public health importance, for which dogs and cats have been implicated as potential mammalian reservoirs hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for R. felis-like species in semi-domesticated cats and their fleas in aim of understanding public health risks posed by cats and their fleas in Bangkok, Thailand. Single whole blood samples (n = 432) and where observed, fleas (n = 234), were collected from cats from 53 temple communities in Bangkok. Fleas were morphologically and genetically identified to a species level. Cat blood and fleas were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the partial outer membrane protein B (ompB). Those that were positive, were further characterised using an R. felis-specific nested PCR targeting the partial citrate synthase A (gltA) gene. All fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis. In total SFG Rickettsiae were detected in the blood of 82/482 (17.01%) cats and 3/234 fleas (1.28%). DNA sequencing of the partial ompB characterised all positive amplicons from cat blood and their fleas as 100% identical to Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ctenocephalides felis orientis isolate (Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125) and Rickettsia asemboensis (GenBank accession no. KP256362 and KY650699, respectively). The gltA gene targeting R. felis was successfully amplified from 12/82 PCR-positive cat blood samples and these clustered with 99% bootstrap support with isolates within the Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 clade. Cats that were permitted to roam freely inside monasteries were more likely to be infected with R. felis compared with cats confined indoors. The results suggest that cats in Thailand are potential mammalian reservoir hosts for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125. {\textcopyright} 2018",

keywords = "Bangkok, Fleas, PCR, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125, Stray cats",

author = "Pornkamol Phoosangwalthong and Hii, {Sze Fui} and Ketsarin Kamyingkird and Chanya Kengradomkij and Nongnuch Pinyopanuwat and Wissanuwat Chimnoi and Traub, {Rebecca J.} and Tawin Inpankaew",

note = "Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].",

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doi = "10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.07.001",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

pages = "188--192",

journal = "Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports",

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Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand. / Phoosangwalthong, Pornkamol; Hii, Sze Fui; Kamyingkird, Ketsarin et al.
In: Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, Vol. 13, 01.08.2018, p. 188-192.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand

AU - Phoosangwalthong, Pornkamol

AU - Hii, Sze Fui

AU - Kamyingkird, Ketsarin

AU - Kengradomkij, Chanya

AU - Pinyopanuwat, Nongnuch

AU - Chimnoi, Wissanuwat

AU - Traub, Rebecca J.

AU - Inpankaew, Tawin

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2018/8/1

Y1 - 2018/8/1

N2 - Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria and the cause of flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF), an emerging zoonosis of global public health importance, for which dogs and cats have been implicated as potential mammalian reservoirs hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for R. felis-like species in semi-domesticated cats and their fleas in aim of understanding public health risks posed by cats and their fleas in Bangkok, Thailand. Single whole blood samples (n = 432) and where observed, fleas (n = 234), were collected from cats from 53 temple communities in Bangkok. Fleas were morphologically and genetically identified to a species level. Cat blood and fleas were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the partial outer membrane protein B (ompB). Those that were positive, were further characterised using an R. felis-specific nested PCR targeting the partial citrate synthase A (gltA) gene. All fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis. In total SFG Rickettsiae were detected in the blood of 82/482 (17.01%) cats and 3/234 fleas (1.28%). DNA sequencing of the partial ompB characterised all positive amplicons from cat blood and their fleas as 100% identical to Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ctenocephalides felis orientis isolate (Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125) and Rickettsia asemboensis (GenBank accession no. KP256362 and KY650699, respectively). The gltA gene targeting R. felis was successfully amplified from 12/82 PCR-positive cat blood samples and these clustered with 99% bootstrap support with isolates within the Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 clade. Cats that were permitted to roam freely inside monasteries were more likely to be infected with R. felis compared with cats confined indoors. The results suggest that cats in Thailand are potential mammalian reservoir hosts for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125. © 2018

AB - Rickettsia felis is an obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria and the cause of flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF), an emerging zoonosis of global public health importance, for which dogs and cats have been implicated as potential mammalian reservoirs hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for R. felis-like species in semi-domesticated cats and their fleas in aim of understanding public health risks posed by cats and their fleas in Bangkok, Thailand. Single whole blood samples (n = 432) and where observed, fleas (n = 234), were collected from cats from 53 temple communities in Bangkok. Fleas were morphologically and genetically identified to a species level. Cat blood and fleas were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the partial outer membrane protein B (ompB). Those that were positive, were further characterised using an R. felis-specific nested PCR targeting the partial citrate synthase A (gltA) gene. All fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis. In total SFG Rickettsiae were detected in the blood of 82/482 (17.01%) cats and 3/234 fleas (1.28%). DNA sequencing of the partial ompB characterised all positive amplicons from cat blood and their fleas as 100% identical to Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ctenocephalides felis orientis isolate (Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125) and Rickettsia asemboensis (GenBank accession no. KP256362 and KY650699, respectively). The gltA gene targeting R. felis was successfully amplified from 12/82 PCR-positive cat blood samples and these clustered with 99% bootstrap support with isolates within the Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 clade. Cats that were permitted to roam freely inside monasteries were more likely to be infected with R. felis compared with cats confined indoors. The results suggest that cats in Thailand are potential mammalian reservoir hosts for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125. © 2018

KW - Bangkok

KW - Fleas

KW - PCR

KW - Rickettsia felis

KW - Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125

KW - Stray cats

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U2 - 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.07.001

DO - 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.07.001

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 31014872

SN - 2405-9390

VL - 13

SP - 188

EP - 192

JO - Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

JF - Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

ER -

Cats as potential mammalian reservoirs for Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125 in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

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