TY - JOUR
T1 - Survey for zoonotic rickettsial pathogens in northern flying squirrels, Glaucomys sabrinus, in California
AU - Foley, Janet E.
AU - Nieto, Nathan C.
AU - Clueit, S. Bernadette
AU - Foley, Patrick
AU - Nicholson, William N.
AU - Brown, Richard N.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Epidemic typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, is maintained in a southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) sylvatic cycle in the southeastern United States. The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) has not been previously associated with R. prowazekii transmission. A second rickettsial pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilurn, infects dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) and tree squirrels in northern California. Because northern flying squirrels or their ectoparasites have not been tested for these rickettsial pathogens, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to test 24 northern flying squirrels for R. prowazekii and A. phagocytophilum infection or antibodies. Although there was no evidence of exposure to R. prowazekii, we provide molecular evidence of A. phagocytophilum infection in one flying squirrel; two flying squirrels also were seropositive for this pathogen. Fleas and ticks removed from the squirrels included Ceratophyllus ciliatus mononis, Opisodasys vesperalis, Ixodes hearlei, Ixodes pacificus, and Dermacentor paramapertus.
AB - Epidemic typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, is maintained in a southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) sylvatic cycle in the southeastern United States. The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) has not been previously associated with R. prowazekii transmission. A second rickettsial pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilurn, infects dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) and tree squirrels in northern California. Because northern flying squirrels or their ectoparasites have not been tested for these rickettsial pathogens, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to test 24 northern flying squirrels for R. prowazekii and A. phagocytophilum infection or antibodies. Although there was no evidence of exposure to R. prowazekii, we provide molecular evidence of A. phagocytophilum infection in one flying squirrel; two flying squirrels also were seropositive for this pathogen. Fleas and ticks removed from the squirrels included Ceratophyllus ciliatus mononis, Opisodasys vesperalis, Ixodes hearlei, Ixodes pacificus, and Dermacentor paramapertus.
KW - Anaplasma phagocytophilum
KW - Epidemic typhus
KW - Granulocytic anaplasmosis
KW - Rickettsia prowazekii
KW - Rodents
KW - Sylvatic typhus
KW - Vectorborne disease
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36448949060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=36448949060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7589/0090-3558-43.4.684
DO - 10.7589/0090-3558-43.4.684
M3 - Article
C2 - 17984264
AN - SCOPUS:36448949060
SN - 0090-3558
VL - 43
SP - 684
EP - 699
JO - Journal of wildlife diseases
JF - Journal of wildlife diseases
IS - 4
ER -