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. 2022 Jan;22(1):58-61.
doi: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0079. Epub 2022 Jan 3.

A Francisella tularensis-Like Bacterium in Tropical Bed Bugs from Madagascar

Vincent Peta  1 , Luciano M Tantely  2 , Rashaun Potts  1 , Romain Girod  2 , Jose E Pietri  1
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A Francisella tularensis-Like Bacterium in Tropical Bed Bugs from Madagascar

Vincent Peta et al. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

The genus Francisella includes several highly virulent human pathogens and some tick endosymbionts. Francisella infections are acquired by humans through contact with vertebrate animal reservoirs or contaminated water or dust. The species Francisella tularensis can also be transmitted by arthropods including ticks, mosquitoes, and flies. For the first time, we describe the molecular detection of an F. tularensis-like bacterium in bed bugs from samples collected in rural Madagascar. This finding suggests a potential involvement of bed bugs in the ecology of Francisella. The role of bed bugs as possible hosts, reservoirs, or vectors of Francisella spp. should be further investigated.

Keywords: 16S rRNA; Francisella; Madagascar; bacteria; bed bug; metagenomics.

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