Rickettsiae in fleas infesting domestic pets of eastern Himalayan terrains of India

Background Flea-borne rickettsioses have been limitedly explored in the Indian sub-Himalayan belt, including the North Eastern Region (NER) of India. This study investigates the presence of rickettsiae hosts and their probable pathogens in the disease-endemic hilly state of the NER of India. Methods Entomological surveys were carried out in disease-reporting localities in a hilly state in India. Fleas collected from domesticated animals were processed for detection of a Rickettsia-specific 17-kDa gene. Results Sequence analysis revealed Rickettsia felis in six flea pools (40%), Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis in two pools (13.3%) and Rickettsia asembonensis in one pool (6.6%). Conclusions Our findings suggest Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans as potential carriers of R. felis and R. felis-like organisms in India.