Molecular Survey of spp., spp., spp., spp., and spp. in Fleas and Lice in Ethiopia.

Bacterial arthropod-borne pathogens can often cause fever in Africa, but rural laboratories in these settings are usually too basic to provide a precise picture of their epidemiological impact. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in fleas and lice in a rural area of southeast Ethiopia. Between July and November 2013, we extracted DNA from 91 fleas ( [ = 50; 54.9%], [ = 37; 40.1%], and [ = 4; 4.4%] and 30 lice ( [ = 16; 53.3%] and [ = 14; 46.7%]), using two quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses to look for bacteria from the genera: , , , , , , and . Of the 91 fleas analyzed, pathogens were present in 79 (86.8%), including ( = 41; 45%), ( = 40; 44.0%), ( = 2; 2.2%), like agent ( = 1; 1.1%), and ( = 1; 1.1%). was the flea species most frequently infected with (67.7%), followed by (30.7%) ( < 0.001). Of the 30 lice identified, pathogens were present in 7 (23.3%): ( = 4; 16.7%), ( = 2, 6.7%), and ( = 1, 3.3%). Thus, in this rural area of Africa, fleas and lice can transmit parasitic pathogens to humans, causing febrile symptoms.