The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.

Pulex irritans is the only cosmopolitan flea species and the most studied one within the genus Pulex. It has importance in public health since it commonly parasitizes humans causing dermatitis, and it has been also implicated in the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Pulex irritans has been confu...

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Main Authors: Marcela Lareschi, José Manuel Venzal, Santiago Nava, Atilio José Mangold, Aránzazu Portillo, Ana María Palomar-Urbina, José Antonio Oteo-Revuelta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2018-03-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2392
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author Marcela Lareschi
José Manuel Venzal
Santiago Nava
Atilio José Mangold
Aránzazu Portillo
Ana María Palomar-Urbina
José Antonio Oteo-Revuelta
author_facet Marcela Lareschi
José Manuel Venzal
Santiago Nava
Atilio José Mangold
Aránzazu Portillo
Ana María Palomar-Urbina
José Antonio Oteo-Revuelta
author_sort Marcela Lareschi
collection DOAJ
description Pulex irritans is the only cosmopolitan flea species and the most studied one within the genus Pulex. It has importance in public health since it commonly parasitizes humans causing dermatitis, and it has been also implicated in the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Pulex irritans has been confused with the closely related Pulex simulans species for years. Herein, Pulex specimens collected from a Pampas fox and a Chacoan peccary from northwestern Argentina were identified by comparison with type specimens. In addition, the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. was investigated using PCR assays. Our results provided characters of diagnostic importance to identify P. irritans, which include the shape of sternite VII in the females, and of the aedeagal sclerite, clasper and crochet in the males. Besides, we report for the first time P. irritans parasitizing a peccary. This finding reinforces the hypothesis of the origin of this flea associated with this mammal, and then colonizing humans and domestic mammals. There was no evidence of Bartonella or Rickettsia DNA in the analyzed fleas. This information even if negative may be considered relevant for P. irritans from Argentina.
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2007-8706
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spelling doaj-art-44d3bd441d7b4bcf884c24414cfcf0102025-08-20T02:24:58ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062018-03-0189210.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.2.2392The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.Marcela LareschiJosé Manuel VenzalSantiago NavaAtilio José MangoldAránzazu PortilloAna María Palomar-UrbinaJosé Antonio Oteo-Revuelta Pulex irritans is the only cosmopolitan flea species and the most studied one within the genus Pulex. It has importance in public health since it commonly parasitizes humans causing dermatitis, and it has been also implicated in the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Pulex irritans has been confused with the closely related Pulex simulans species for years. Herein, Pulex specimens collected from a Pampas fox and a Chacoan peccary from northwestern Argentina were identified by comparison with type specimens. In addition, the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. was investigated using PCR assays. Our results provided characters of diagnostic importance to identify P. irritans, which include the shape of sternite VII in the females, and of the aedeagal sclerite, clasper and crochet in the males. Besides, we report for the first time P. irritans parasitizing a peccary. This finding reinforces the hypothesis of the origin of this flea associated with this mammal, and then colonizing humans and domestic mammals. There was no evidence of Bartonella or Rickettsia DNA in the analyzed fleas. This information even if negative may be considered relevant for P. irritans from Argentina. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2392FleaSiphonapteraPulexBacteriaPathogensArgentina
spellingShingle Marcela Lareschi
José Manuel Venzal
Santiago Nava
Atilio José Mangold
Aránzazu Portillo
Ana María Palomar-Urbina
José Antonio Oteo-Revuelta
The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Flea
Siphonaptera
Pulex
Bacteria
Pathogens
Argentina
title The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
title_full The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
title_fullStr The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
title_full_unstemmed The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
title_short The human flea Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in northwestern Argentina, with an investigation of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp.
title_sort human flea pulex irritans siphonaptera pulicidae in northwestern argentina with an investigation of bartonella and rickettsia spp
topic Flea
Siphonaptera
Pulex
Bacteria
Pathogens
Argentina
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2392
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