{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T04:49:36Z","timestamp":1791521376327,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778803200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783468800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":54,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100019191","name":"Texas A&M AgriLife Research","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100019191","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Parasites Vectors"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Flea-borne rickettsiosis and bartonellosis are emerging diseases in humans and animals. There is increasing concern for the emergence of\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia typhi<\/jats:italic>\n                      (agent of murine typhus or flea-borne typhus) in humans of southern USA, for which cats are key reservoirs and cat fleas (\n                      <jats:italic>Ctenocephalides felis<\/jats:italic>\n                      ) serve as the vector. Similarly, multiple species of\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      have cats as natural hosts and fleas as vectors, leading to varied disease outcomes in humans, including cat scratch disease and neurobartonellosis.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      To investigate the ecology of\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n                      and\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      pathogens, we studied 167 predominantly stray cats (\n                      <jats:italic>Felis catus<\/jats:italic>\n                      ) from the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Fleas were collected, identified morphologically, and confirmed molecularly. DNA from fleas was tested for\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n                      and\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing of multiple gene targets. Additionally, DNA from blood of all cats and tissues from a subset of cats were assayed for infections.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Flea infestation prevalence of cats was 83.23% (95% CI 76.69\u201388.56)\u2014higher in male versus female cats\u2014yielding 721 fleas, predominantly\n                      <jats:italic>C.\u00a0felis<\/jats:italic>\n                      with two\n                      <jats:italic>Echidnophaga gallinacea<\/jats:italic>\n                      and one\n                      <jats:italic>Pulex<\/jats:italic>\n                      sp. Flea burden was a significant predictor of\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n                      infection in fleas.\n                      <jats:italic>Candidatus<\/jats:italic>\n                      Rickettsia senegalensis was identified in 28 flea pools (20% of all pools; 95% CI 13.72\u201327.59) and\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia typhi<\/jats:italic>\n                      in 6 flea pools (4.29%; 95% CI 1.59\u20139.09).\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella henselae<\/jats:italic>\n                      was identified in 59 flea pools (42.14% of all pools; 95% CI 33.85\u201350.77) and blood from 37 cats (22.16%; 95% CI 16.11\u201329.22);\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella clarridgeiae<\/jats:italic>\n                      was detected in 3 flea pools (2.14% of all pools; 95% CI 0.44\u20136.13) and blood from 1 cat (0.6%; 95% CI 0.01\u20133.29). A total of 30 cats had simultaneously\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella-<\/jats:italic>\n                      positive fleas and blood.\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n                      infection was positively associated with flea burden. Coinfections of\n                      <jats:italic>Rickettsia<\/jats:italic>\n                      and\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      in fleas occurred more commonly than expected by chance.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The infection of fleas from cats in south Texas with\n                      <jats:italic>R.\u00a0typhi<\/jats:italic>\n                      and multiple\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      species, in addition to\n                      <jats:italic>Bartonella<\/jats:italic>\n                      infections in the host cats, suggest that public health surveillance for these emergent zoonoses should include a focus on vectors and potential feline reservoirs.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,19]],"date-time":"2026-05-19T09:42:50Z","timestamp":1779183770000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella henselae, and related zoonotic agents in fleas from domestic cats (Felis catus) from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Sujata","family":"Balasubramanian","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Italo B.","family":"Zecca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Allyson","family":"Koger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah A.","family":"Hamer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"7421_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"383","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cll.2017.01.009","volume":"37","author":"R Fang","year":"2017","unstructured":"Fang R, Blanton LS, Walker DH. Rickettsiae as emerging infectious agents. Clin Lab Med. 2017;37:383\u2013400. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cll.2017.01.009.","journal-title":"Clin Lab Med"},{"key":"7421_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinmicnews.2019.06.002","volume":"41","author":"KG Rodino","year":"2019","unstructured":"Rodino KG. Rickettsioses in the United States | Elsevier Enhanced Reader. Clin Microbiol Newsl. 2019;41:113\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.clinmicnews.2019.06.002.","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Newsl"},{"key":"7421_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0303.970308","volume":"3","author":"AF Azad","year":"1997","unstructured":"Azad AF, Radulovic S, Higgins JA, Noden BH, Troyer JM. Flea-borne rickettsioses: ecologic considerations. Emerg Infect Dis. 1997;3:319\u201327.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1019","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1407.071656","volume":"14","author":"CE P\u00e9rez-Osorio","year":"2008","unstructured":"P\u00e9rez-Osorio CE, Zavala-Vel\u00e1zquez JE, Le\u00f3n JJA, Zavala-Castro JE. Rickettsia felis as emergent global threat for humans. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14:1019\u201323. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1407.071656.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed6010002","volume":"6","author":"GM Anstead","year":"2020","unstructured":"Anstead GM. History, rats, fleas, and opossums. II. The decline and resurgence of flea-borne typhus in the United States, 1945\u20132019. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2020;6:2. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/tropicalmed6010002.","journal-title":"Trop Med Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"913","DOI":"10.1086\/527443","volume":"46","author":"R Civen","year":"2008","unstructured":"Civen R, Ngo V. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;46:913\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1086\/527443.","journal-title":"Clin Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2147\/RRTM.S274724","volume":"12","author":"MA Caravedo Martinez","year":"2021","unstructured":"Caravedo Martinez MA, Ram\u00edrez-Hern\u00e1ndez A, Blanton LS. Manifestations and management of flea-borne rickettsioses. Res Rep Trop Med. 2021;12:1\u201314. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/RRTM.S274724.","journal-title":"Res Rep Trop Med"},{"key":"7421_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vprsr.2022.100781","volume":"35","author":"NB Juhasz","year":"2022","unstructured":"Juhasz NB, Wilson JM, Haney KN, Clark MH, Davenport AC, Breitschwerdt EB, et al. Rickettsia typhi infection in a clinically-ill dog from Houston, Texas. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep. 2022;35:100781. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.vprsr.2022.100781.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep"},{"key":"7421_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1993.48.269","volume":"48","author":"FJ Sorvillo","year":"1993","unstructured":"Sorvillo FJ, Gondo B, Emmons R, Ryan P, Waterman SH, Tilzer A, et al. A suburban focus of endemic typhus in Los Angeles county: association with seropositive domestic cats and opossums. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1993;48:269\u201373. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.1993.48.269.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"7421_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1111\/jvec.12159","volume":"40","author":"MJ Gracia","year":"2015","unstructured":"Gracia MJ, Marc\u00e9n JM, Pinal R, Calvete C, Rodes D. Prevalence of Rickettsia and Bartonella species in Spanish cats and their fleas. J Vector Ecol. 2015;40:233\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jvec.12159.","journal-title":"J Vector Ecol"},{"key":"7421_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1051\/vetres\/2009011","volume":"40","author":"BB Chomel","year":"2009","unstructured":"Chomel BB, Boulouis H-J, Breitschwerdt EB, Kasten RW, Vayssier-Taussat M, Birtles RJ, et al. Ecological fitness and strategies of adaptation of Bartonella species to their hosts and vectors. Vet Res. 2009;40:29. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1051\/vetres\/2009011.","journal-title":"Vet Res"},{"key":"7421_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1741","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2210.160115","volume":"22","author":"CA Nelson","year":"2016","unstructured":"Nelson CA, Saha S, Mead PS. Cat-scratch disease in the United States, 2005\u20132013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22:1741\u20136. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid2210.160115.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2448","DOI":"10.1128\/AAC.41.11.2448","volume":"41","author":"DL Kordick","year":"1997","unstructured":"Kordick DL, Papich MG, Breitschwerdt EB. Efficacy of enrofloxacin or doxycycline for treatment of Bartonella henselae or Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in cats. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1997;41:2448\u201355. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/AAC.41.11.2448.","journal-title":"Antimicrob Agents Chemother"},{"key":"7421_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1128\/CDLI.9.1.8-18.2002","volume":"9","author":"V Jacomo","year":"2002","unstructured":"Jacomo V, Kelly PJ, Raoult D. Natural history of Bartonella infections (an exception to Koch\u2019s postulate). Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2002;9:8\u201318. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/CDLI.9.1.8-18.2002.","journal-title":"Clin Vaccine Immunol"},{"key":"7421_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci12020217","volume":"12","author":"S Jurja","year":"2022","unstructured":"Jurja S, Stroe AZ, Pundiche MB, Docu Axelerad S, Mateescu G, Micu AO, et al. The clinical profile of cat-scratch disease\u2019s neuro-ophthalmological effects. Brain Sci. 2022;12:217. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/brainsci12020217.","journal-title":"Brain Sci"},{"key":"7421_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2607.200034","author":"CC Nawrocki","year":"2020","unstructured":"Nawrocki CC, Max RJ, Marzec NS, Nelson CA. Atypical manifestations of cat-scratch disease, United States, 2005\u20132014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid2607.200034.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2024.1388442","volume":"15","author":"S Delaney","year":"2024","unstructured":"Delaney S, Robveille C, Maggi RG, Lashnits E, Kingston E, Liedig C, et al. Bartonella species bacteremia in association with adult psychosis. Front Psychiatry. 2024;15:1388442. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2024.1388442.","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"},{"key":"7421_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2978","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.39.8.2978-2980.2001","volume":"39","author":"JM Rolain","year":"2001","unstructured":"Rolain JM, La Scola B, Liang Z, Davoust B, Raoult D. Immunofluorescent detection of intraerythrocytic Bartonella henselae in naturally infected cats. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39:2978\u201380. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/JCM.39.8.2978-2980.2001.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"7421_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1536","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.37.5.1536-1547.1999","volume":"37","author":"DL Kordick","year":"1999","unstructured":"Kordick DL, Brown TT, Shin K, Breitschwerdt EB. Clinical and pathologic evaluation of chronic Bartonella henselae or Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in cats. J Clin Microbiol. 1999;37:1536\u201347. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/JCM.37.5.1536-1547.1999.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"7421_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X12458628","volume":"14","author":"EB Breitschwerdt","year":"2012","unstructured":"Breitschwerdt EB, Lappin MR. Feline bartonellosis: we\u2019re just scratching the surface. J Feline Med Surg. 2012;14:609\u201310. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1098612X12458628.","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"7421_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"647","DOI":"10.1089\/vbz.2018.2402","volume":"19","author":"LS Blanton","year":"2019","unstructured":"Blanton LS, Vohra RF, Fistein L, Quade B, Walker DH, Bouyer DH. Rickettsiae within the fleas of feral cats in Galveston, Texas. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2019;19:647\u201351. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1089\/vbz.2018.2402.","journal-title":"Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crpvbd.2021.100045","volume":"1","author":"HHH Huang","year":"2021","unstructured":"Huang HHH, Power RI, Mathews KO, Ma GC, Bosward KL, \u0160lapeta J. Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis clade \u2018Sydney\u2019) are dominant fleas on dogs and cats in New South Wales, Australia: presence of flea-borne Rickettsia felis, Bartonella spp. but absence of Coxiella burnetii DNA. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2021;1:100045. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.crpvbd.2021.100045.","journal-title":"Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1590\/s1984-29612022006","volume":"31","author":"JM Raimundo","year":"2022","unstructured":"Raimundo JM, Guimar\u00e3es A, Amaro GM, da Silva AT, Rodrigues CJBC, Santos HA, et al. Prevalence of Bartonella species in shelter cats and their ectoparasites in southeastern Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2022;31:e014221. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1590\/s1984-29612022006.","journal-title":"Rev Bras Parasitol Vet"},{"key":"7421_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10091209","volume":"10","author":"M Razg\u016bnait\u0117","year":"2021","unstructured":"Razg\u016bnait\u0117 M, Lipatova I, Paulauskas A, Karvelien\u0117 B, Ri\u0161kevi\u010dien\u0117 V, Radzijevskaja J. Bartonella infections in cats and cat fleas in Lithuania. Pathogens. 2021;10:1209. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pathogens10091209.","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"7421_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1556\/004.2022.00004","volume":"70","author":"M Liodaki","year":"2022","unstructured":"Liodaki M, Spanakos G, Samarkos M, Daikos GL, Christopoulou V, Piperaki E-T. Molecular screening of cat and dog ectoparasites for the presence of Bartonella spp. in Attica, Greece. Acta Vet Hung. 2022;70:9\u201314. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1556\/004.2022.00004.","journal-title":"Acta Vet Hung"},{"key":"7421_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e667","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2009.11.011","volume":"14","author":"I Bitam","year":"2010","unstructured":"Bitam I, Dittmar K, Parola P, Whiting MF, Raoult D. Fleas and flea-borne diseases. Int J Infect Dis. 2010;14:e667\u201376. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijid.2009.11.011.","journal-title":"Int J Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/01652176.1998.9694824","volume":"20","author":"JE Foley","year":"1998","unstructured":"Foley JE, Chomel B, Kikuchi Y, Yamamoto K, Pedersen NC. Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in cattery cats: association with cattery hygiene and flea infestation. Vet Q. 1998;20:1\u20135. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/01652176.1998.9694824.","journal-title":"Vet Q"},{"key":"7421_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.12834\/VetIt.109.303.3","volume":"53","author":"F Iannino","year":"2017","unstructured":"Iannino F, Sulli N, Maitino A, Pascucci I, Pampiglione G, Salucci S. Fleas of dog and cat: species, biology and flea-borne diseases. Vet Ital. 2017;53:273\u20135. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12834\/VetIt.109.303.3.","journal-title":"Vet Ital"},{"key":"7421_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2019.109014","volume":"278","author":"IB Zecca","year":"2020","unstructured":"Zecca IB, Hodo CL, Slack S, Auckland L, Rodgers S, Killets KC, et al. Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and associated histologic findings in domestic cats (Felis catus). Vet Parasitol. 2020;278:109014. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.vetpar.2019.109014.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"7421_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2019.01.001","volume":"49","author":"AL Lawrence","year":"2019","unstructured":"Lawrence AL, Webb CE, Clark NJ, Halajian A, Mihalca AD, Miret J, et al. Out-of-Africa, human-mediated dispersal of the common cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis: the hitchhiker\u2019s guide to world domination. Int J Parasitol. 2019;49:321\u201336. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpara.2019.01.001.","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"},{"key":"7421_CR31","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control. Pictorial keys to arthropods, reptiles, birds, and mammals of public health significance [Internet]. 1966. https:\/\/stacks.cdc.gov. Accessed 15 Dec 2025."},{"key":"7421_CR32","first-page":"294","volume":"3","author":"O Folmer","year":"1994","unstructured":"Folmer O, Black M, Hoeh W, Lutz R, Vrijenhoek R. DNA primers for amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from diverse metazoan invertebrates. Mol Mar Biol Biotechnol. 1994;3:294\u20139.","journal-title":"Mol Mar Biol Biotechnol"},{"key":"7421_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1449","DOI":"10.1099\/00207713-50-4-1449","volume":"50","author":"V Roux","year":"2000","unstructured":"Roux V, Raoult D. Phylogenetic analysis of members of the genus Rickettsia using the gene encoding the outer-membrane protein rOmpB (ompB). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2000;50:1449\u201355. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1099\/00207713-50-4-1449.","journal-title":"Int J Syst Evol Microbiol"},{"key":"7421_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1603.091333","volume":"16","author":"PC Williamson","year":"2010","unstructured":"Williamson PC, Billingsley PM, Teltow GJ, Seals JP, Turnbough MA, Atkinson SF. Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia spp. in ticks removed from persons, Texas, USA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16:441\u20136. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1603.091333.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1576","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.173.5.1576-1589.1991","volume":"173","author":"RL Regenery","year":"1991","unstructured":"Regenery RL, Spruill CL, Plikaytis BD. Genotypic identification of rickettsiae and estimation of intraspecies sequence divergence for portions of two rickettsial genes. J Bacteriol. 1991;173:1576\u201389. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/jb.173.5.1576-1589.1991.","journal-title":"J Bacteriol"},{"key":"7421_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.1128\/jcm.28.3.530-534.1990","volume":"28","author":"L Webb","year":"1990","unstructured":"Webb L, Mitchell C, Malloy DC, Dasch GA, Azad AF. Detection of murine typhus infection in fleas by using the polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Microbiol. 1990;28:530\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/jcm.28.3.530-534.1990.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"7421_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1099\/00207713-52-1-165","volume":"52","author":"Z Zeaiter","year":"2002","unstructured":"Zeaiter Z, Fournier P-E, Ogata H, Raoult D. Phylogenetic classification of Bartonella species by comparing groEL sequences. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2002;52:165\u201371. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1099\/00207713-52-1-165.","journal-title":"Int J Syst Evol Microbiol"},{"key":"7421_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1287","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1108.050101","volume":"11","author":"VD La","year":"2005","unstructured":"La VD, Tran-Hung L, Aboudharam G, Raoult D, Drancourt M. Bartonella quintana in domestic cat. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:1287\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1108.050101.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2024.107401","volume":"260","author":"Y Tian","year":"2024","unstructured":"Tian Y, Juarez JG, Moller-Vasquez AM, Granados-Presa M, Ferreira FC, Pennington PM, et al. Dog ectoparasites as sentinels for pathogenic Rickettsia and Bartonella in rural Guatemala. Acta Trop. 2024;260:107401. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.actatropica.2024.107401.","journal-title":"Acta Trop"},{"key":"7421_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1870","DOI":"10.1093\/molbev\/msw054","volume":"33","author":"S Kumar","year":"2016","unstructured":"Kumar S, Stecher G, Tamura K. MEGA7: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Mol Biol Evol. 2016;33:1870\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/molbev\/msw054.","journal-title":"Mol Biol Evol"},{"key":"7421_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Torres-Castro M, Mart\u00ednez-Ortiz D, Panti-May A, Koyoc-Carde\u00f1a E, L\u00f3pez-\u00c1vila K, Dzul-Rosado K, et al. Rickettsia typhi in rodents from a community with history of murine typhus from Yucatan, Mexico. Rickettsia typhi en roedores de una comunidad con antecedentes de tifo murino, de Yucat\u00e1n, M\u00e9xico. Rev MVZ C\u00f3rdoba. 2018;23:6974\u201380. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21897\/rmvz.1420","DOI":"10.21897\/rmvz.1420"},{"key":"7421_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vprsr.2022.100743","author":"LD Brown","year":"2022","unstructured":"Brown LD, Maness R, Greer K. Detection of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) collected from free-roaming domestic cats in southeastern Georgia, USA. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep. 2022. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.vprsr.2022.100743.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep"},{"key":"7421_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1627","DOI":"10.1093\/jme\/tjy124","volume":"55","author":"A M\u00fcller","year":"2018","unstructured":"M\u00fcller A, Rodr\u00edguez E, Walker R, Bittencourt P, P\u00e9rez-Macchi S, Gon\u00e7alves LR, et al. Occurrence and genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae) and Rickettsia spp. (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) from Chile. J Med Entomol. 2018;55:1627\u201332. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jme\/tjy124.","journal-title":"J Med Entomol"},{"key":"7421_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.13-0010","volume":"90","author":"B Kumsa","year":"2014","unstructured":"Kumsa B, Parola P, Raoult D, Socolovschi C. Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis and Bartonella henselae in dog and cat fleas in Central Oromia, Ethiopia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014;90:457\u201362. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.13-0010.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"7421_CR45","first-page":"411","volume":"72","author":"A Kamrani","year":"2008","unstructured":"Kamrani A, Parreira VR, Greenwood J, Prescott JF. The prevalence of Bartonella, Hemoplasma, and Rickettsia felis infections in domestic cats and in cat fleas in Ontario. Can J Vet Res. 2008;72:411\u20139.","journal-title":"Can J Vet Res"},{"key":"7421_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vprsr.2023.100871","volume":"41","author":"IA Mosley","year":"2023","unstructured":"Mosley IA, Zecca IB, Tyagi N, Harvey TV, Hamer SA, Verocai GG. Occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in shelter cats in the Lower Rio Grande Valley region in South Texas, United States, using integrated diagnostic approaches. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep. 2023;41:100871. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.vprsr.2023.100871.","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Rep"},{"key":"7421_CR47","first-page":"56","volume":"98","author":"RJ Wiggers","year":"2002","unstructured":"Wiggers RJ, Stewart RS. Ownership of cats or dogs does not increase exposure to Rickettsia typhi. Tex Med. 2002;98:56\u20137.","journal-title":"Tex Med"},{"key":"7421_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"238","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.19-0642","volume":"103","author":"CS Devamani","year":"2020","unstructured":"Devamani CS, Schmidt W-P, Ariyoshi K, Anitha A, Kalaimani S, Prakash JAJ. Risk factors for scrub typhus, murine typhus, and spotted fever seropositivity in urban areas, rural plains, and peri-forest hill villages in South India: a cross-sectional study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103:238\u201348. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.19-0642.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"7421_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1702.101070","volume":"17","author":"BB Chomel","year":"2011","unstructured":"Chomel BB, Sun B. Zoonoses in the bedroom. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17:167\u201372. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1702.101070.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1071","DOI":"10.1097\/INF.0000000000001954","volume":"37","author":"A Howard","year":"2018","unstructured":"Howard A, Fergie J. Murine typhus in South Texas children: an 18-year review. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018;37:1071\u20136. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/INF.0000000000001954.\u00a0","journal-title":"Pediatr Infect Dis J"},{"key":"7421_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12368","volume":"65","author":"CA Nelson","year":"2018","unstructured":"Nelson CA, Moore AR, Perea AE, Mead PS. Cat scratch disease: U.S. clinicians\u2019 experience and knowledge. Zoonoses Public Health. 2018;65:67\u201373. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/zph.12368.","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"7421_CR52","unstructured":"CDC. Rickettsial Diseases [Internet]. Yellow Book. 2025. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/yellow-book\/hcp\/travel-associated-infections-diseases\/rickettsial-diseases.html. Accessed 11 Mar 2026."},{"key":"7421_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1213","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2407.180093","volume":"24","author":"J Rauch","year":"2018","unstructured":"Rauch J, Eisermann P, Noack B, Mehlhoop U, Muntau B, Sch\u00e4fer J, et al. Typhus group rickettsiosis, Germany, 2010\u20132017. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018;24:1213\u201320. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid2407.180093.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1203.050888","volume":"12","author":"S Svraka","year":"2006","unstructured":"Svraka S, Rolain J-M, Bechah Y, Gatabazi J, Raoult D. Rickettsia prowazekii and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:428\u201332. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1203.050888.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"7421_CR55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms10081609","volume":"10","author":"RB do Amaral","year":"2022","unstructured":"do Amaral RB, Cardozo MV, Varani AdeM, Furquim MEC, Dias CM, de Assis WO, et al. First report of Bartonella spp. in marsupials from Brazil, with a description of Bartonella harrusi sp. nov. and a new proposal for the taxonomic reclassification of species of the genus Bartonella. Microorganisms. 2022;10:1609. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/microorganisms10081609.","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"7421_CR56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nmni.2019.100596","volume":"32","author":"H Medkour","year":"2019","unstructured":"Medkour H, Lo CI, Anani H, Fenollar F, Mediannikov O. Bartonella massiliensis sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from an Ornithodoros sonrai tick from Senegal. New Microbes New Infect. 2019;32:100596. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.nmni.2019.100596.","journal-title":"New Microbes New Infect"},{"key":"7421_CR57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005297","volume":"11","author":"M Laroche","year":"2017","unstructured":"Laroche M, Berenger J-M, Mediannikov O, Raoult D, Parola P. Detection of a potential new Bartonella species \u201cCandidatus Bartonella rondoniensis\u201d in human biting kissing bugs (Reduviidae; Triatominae). PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11:e0005297. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005297.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"}],"container-title":["Parasites &amp; Vectors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T03:12:38Z","timestamp":1783480358000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["7421"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13071-026-07421-1","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-8726915\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1756-3305"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1756-3305","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"assertion":[{"value":"29 January 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 April 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"15 May 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The Texas A&M. University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) issued a letter of exemption on 16 December 2016, as samples were collected exclusively from cats that were euthanized for nonstudy reasons.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"281"}}