Epidemiological survey of Rickettsia species from fleas infested with red squirrels (Sciurusvulgaris orientis)

从北海道十胜地区的66只红松鼠中采集了41份血液、29份脾脏和475份跳蚤样品。血液和脾脏样本中未检出立克次体，但在342份蜱种鉴定的跳蚤样本中，有69份（20.2%）立克次体阳性。对检测到的立克次体4个基因的部分序列进行了测定，结果与立克次体相近。用15只蚤分离立克次体，从1只蚤中成功分离出立克次体。

Forty one blood, 29 spleen, and 475 flea samples were taken from a total of 66 red squirrels in Tokachi region, Hokkaido. No rickettsial agent were detected from blood and spleen samples, however, 69 (20.2%) of 342 flea samples of which tick species were identified were positive for Rickettsiaspecies. Partial sequences of 4 genes of detected rickettsiae were determined, which were close to Rickettsiafelis. Fifteen fleas were used for isolation of rickettsiae, and rickettsial agent was successfully isolated from one flea.