Detection of Flea-Borne Pathogens from Cats and Fleas in a Maltese Shelter.

Abstract

In a sanctuary located on the island of Malta, 23 clinically healthy cats randomly selected were sampled for blood and fleas. Only fleas were collected from 35 cats. All fleas were identified as, except for one specimen of. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this may be the first time to establish the occurrence ofand, as well as ofMycoplasma haemominutum in the blood samples of 11 cats (47.82% [95% CI: 29.33-67.04]) with conventional PCR assays. One or more pathogens were found in 54 (96.42% [95% CI: 86.74-99.70]) out of 56 pooled flea samples, the most prevalent was. The DNA of, the commonest etiological agent of cat scratch disease, was detected first time in a pooled flea sample of a cat.