@article{68413cb22554432cb5b30502db1ef858,
title = "Host distribution and pathogen infection of fleas (Siphonaptera) recovered from small mammals in Pennsylvania",
abstract = "The number of recognized flea-borne pathogens has increased over the past decade. However, the true number of infections related to all flea-borne pathogens remains unknown. To better understand the enzootic cycle of flea-borne pathogens, fleas were sampled from small mammals trapped in central Pennsylvania. A total of 541 small mammals were trapped, with white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) accounting for over 94% of the captures. Only P. leucopus were positive for examined blood-borne pathogens, with 47 (18.1%) and ten (4.8%) positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti, respectively. In addition, 61 fleas were collected from small mammals and tested for pathogens. Orchopeas leucopus was the most common flea and Bartonella vinsonii subspecies arupensis, B. microti, and a Rickettsia felis-like bacterium were detected in various flea samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. microti DNA detected from a flea and the first report of a R. felis-like bacterium from rodent fleas in eastern North America. This study provides evidence of emerging pathogens found in fleas, but further investigation is required to resolve the ecology of flea-borne disease transmission cycles.",
author = "Kaila Fedele and Poh, {Karen C.} and Brown, {Jessica E.} and Amanda Jones and Durden, {Lance A.} and Tiffin, {Hannah S.} and Alexandra Pagac and Li, {Andrew Y.} and Machtinger, {Erika T.}",
note = "Funding Information: Material has been reviewed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. There is no objection to its presentation and/or publication. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author, and are not to be construed as official, or as reflecting true views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. We would like to thank Andrias Hojgaard and Lynn Osikowicz of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for providing pathogen test results of rodent tissues collected from this and a tick related research project, Lars Eisen of CDC for the critical review of an early version of the manuscript, and Dillon Gruver and Elizabeth Tuorinsky for their assistance in the field. We express our gratitude to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for allowing us to conduct research in the State Game Lands. This project was partially funded through a cooperative agreement (#000197527) between Penn State University and United States Department of Agriculture. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation by the USDA for its use. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Society for Vector Ecology",
year = "2020",
month = jun,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1111/jvec.12371",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "45",
pages = "32--44",
journal = "Journal of Vector Ecology",
issn = "1081-1710",
publisher = "Society for Vector Ecology",
number = "1",
}