Blood Meal Source Identification of the Human Flea, Pulex irritans, from Rural Villages in Madagascar Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Plague is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread through flea vectors. Flea species vary in their potential to spread plague to their hosts. This dynamic is further complicated as the blood sources consumed by fleas can impact their ability to transmit plague efficiently. Although the human flea, Pulex irritans, has commonly been found infesting homes in Madagascar, little is known about its role in the plague transmission cycle and its feeding patterns. This study compared the efficacy of two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to conduct blood meal source identification for wild caught P. irritans from rural villages in Madagascar; singleplex PCR with Sanger sequencing and multiplex PCR with avian and mammalian primer sets. Singleplex PCR was prone to contamination with 20% of samples not matching positive controls. With the avian primer set, 81.12% out of 376 samples could be identified by multiplex PCR, with 81.12% positive for humans, 5.59% for avian, and 0.50% for non-human mammals DNA. With the mammalian primer set, 78.49% out of 93 could be identified by mutiplex PCR, 78.49% positive for humans, 12.90% positive for pigs, 6.45% positive for cows, and none were positive for dogs or goats. These results indicate that although the primary host preference for P. irritans was humans, they also fed on pigs, cows, and birds. These findings are an important first step toward understanding P. irritans host preference and range, which can better inform this vectors behavior and potential role in the plague transmission context.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction.....................................................................................................................1

Materials and Methods......................................................................................................3

Results.............................................................................................................................8

Discussion.......................................................................................................................10

References.......................................................................................................................14

Tables and Figures............................................................................................................16

 

 

 

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Environmental Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Molecular Health Sciences, Public Health
Keyword	Molecular Biology Flea Multiplex PCR Madagascar Sanger sequencing Polymerase Chain Reaction Pulex irritans Plague
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gillespie, Thomas , Emory University

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