Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Fleas are recognized as one of the most important vectors of various diseases in humans and animals. Studies have reported the distribution of fleas in different regions of China and the pathogens they carry. However, limited research exists on the detection and classification of flea-borne pathogens in Jiangxi Province. Additionally, we identified previously unreported pathogens in Pulex irritans. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? In this study, 3 Ctenocephalides felis and 118 Pulex irritans collected from domestic dogs were tested for six pathogens.The results revealed that Pulex irritans carried six pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia hermsii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia slovaca. This is the first report of these six pathogens in Pulex irritans. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Both humans and animals in Suichuan County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, may be at risk from flea-borne infectious agents. Therefore, there is an urgent need for public health alerts, active flea surveillance and effective screening for infections in humans and animals in Suichuan County.