Prevalence Of Bartonella Spp. And Rickettsia Spp. In Ctenocephalides Felis Infesting Stray Cats In Urban Areas In Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

An abstract of the research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, in partial requirement of the course DVT 55204 – Research Project. Cats are not only among the most popular pets but also form a significant portion of the stray animal population, relying on foraging for food and shelter. Stray cats serve as primary hosts for the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, a vector responsible for transmitting zoonotic diseases, including Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae) and Flea-borne Spotted Fever (Rickettsia felis). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in the stray cat population, identify factors contributing to flea infestations, and examine the correlation between specific body regions and infestation intensity. A total of 40 stray cats were sampled from three urban locations: Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Taman Tengku Anis, and Pasar Tok Guru, using random sampling. Fleas were collected from 30 of the 40 cats that were found infested, by combing various body regions (head, dorsal, ventral, forelimbs, hindlimbs, and tail/perineum) for two minutes. DNA from the flea samples was analysed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp., with positive results confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Selected PCR products were sequenced for species identification. All 30 samples tested positive for Bartonella spp. (100%), while 5 samples (16.67%) showed suspected positivity for Rickettsia spp., though insufficient PCR product concentration hindered further confirmation. Gene sequencing identified Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between flea infestations and the cat's age (p < 0.017). Furthermore, the flea counts on the head, neck, and ears were significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to the other examined regions, including the dorsal, ventral, forelimbs, hindlimbs, and tail areas. These findings offer valuable insights for improving flea control strategies in stray cats and minimizing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans.
Keywords: Ctenocephalides felis, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Rickettsia spp., Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Stray cats.