Zavala-Velázquez J E, Zavala-Castro J E, Vado-Solís I, Ruiz-Sosa J A, Moron C G, Bouyer D H, Walker D H
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2002 Summer;2(2):69-75. doi: 10.1089/153036602321131869.
In search for the vector of the recently recognized spotted fever rickettsiosis of the Yucatán, ticks, fleas, and lice were collected from vegetation and dogs in localities where seropositive persons had been found. The arthropods were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for the genus-specific 17-kDa protein gene followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing. Eleven (20%) of 54 pools of Ctenocephalides felis fleas contained DNA of Rickettsia felis. None of 219 Amblyomma cajennense, 474 Rhiphicephalus sanguineus, 258 Boophilus sp. ticks, and 33 Poliplax species lice contained DNA of Rickettsia. The identity of the rickettsial DNA was confirmed as R. felis by PCR/RFLP for the citrate synthase and outer membrane protein A genes and by DNA sequencing. The results indicate that the host of R. felis in Yucatán is C. felis and suggest that the spotted fever rickettsiosis that has infected >5% of the population of the Yucatán and can present as a dengue-like illness is likely to be caused by R. felis.
为寻找尤卡坦半岛近期发现的斑点热立克次体病的传播媒介，在发现血清反应阳性者的地区，从植被和狗身上采集蜱、跳蚤和虱子。使用针对属特异性17-kDa蛋白基因的引物，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）对节肢动物进行检测，随后进行限制性片段长度多态性分析（RFLP）和DNA测序。54组猫栉首蚤中有11组（20%）含有猫立克次体的DNA。219只卡氏钝缘蜱、474只血红扇头蜱、258只牛蜱属蜱和33只多板虱属虱子中均未检测到立克次体的DNA。通过对柠檬酸合酶和外膜蛋白A基因进行PCR/RFLP以及DNA测序，确认立克次体DNA的身份为猫立克次体。结果表明，尤卡坦半岛猫立克次体的宿主是猫栉首蚤，并提示已感染尤卡坦半岛5%以上人口且可表现为登革热样疾病的斑点热立克次体病可能由猫立克次体引起。
