Short report
Molecular evidence of Rickettsia felis infection in dogs from northern territory, Australia
1 School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343 Australia
2 Bayer Animal Health Tingalpa, Brisbane, Queensland, 4343 Australia
Parasites & Vectors 2011, 4:198 doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-198
Published: 11 October 2011Abstract
The prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsial infection in dogs from a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory (NT) was determined using molecular tools. Blood samples collected from 130 dogs in the community of Maningrida were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the ompB gene followed by a Rickettsia felis-specific PCR targeting the gltA gene of R. felis. Rickettsia felis ompB and gltA genes were amplified from the blood of 3 dogs. This study is the first report of R. felis infection in indigenous community dogs in NT.
