Molecular screening of cat and dog ectoparasites for the presence of Bartonella spp. in Attica, Greece.

The purpose of this study was the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in fleas and ticks parasitizing cats and dogs from 39 locations in Attica, Greece. One hundred and forty five ectoparasites (104 fleas and 41 ticks) from 92 cats and 53 dogs were investigated individually using PCRs targeting the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer (ITS) and the citrate synthase (gltA) genetic loci. Bartonella spp. were detected in 14 out of 104 fleas (13.5%) and in none of the ticks examined. Consequent sequence analysis of the amplicons from the two loci identified 3 strains as Bartonella henselae, and 11 as Bartonella clarridgeiae. Οur study demonstrates the presence of B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in Ctenocephalides felis fleas from cat and dog in Greece. We also report a novel ITS sequence for B. clarridgeiae. Considering that fleas could pose a risk for human bartonellosis from their infected hosts, further studies on the public health risk of Bartonella presence in animal ectoparasites are warranted.