Complete bacterial profile and potential pathogens of cat fleas Ctenocephalides felis.

Fleas are important ectoparasites and vectors associated with a wide range of pathogenic diseases, posing threats to public health concerns, especially cat fleas that spread worldwide. Understanding the microbial components is essential due to cat fleas are capable of transmitting pathogens to humans, causing diseases like plague and murine typhus. In the present study, metagenomic next-generation sequencing was applied to obtain the complete microbiota and related functions in the gut of Ctenocephalides felis. A total of 1,870 species was taxonomically recognized including 1,407 bacteria, 365 eukaryotes, 69 viruses, and 29 archaea. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum among the six samples. Pathogens Rickettsia felis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Coxiella burnetii, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were taxonomically identified and had high abundances in all samples. The resistance gene MexD was predominant in microbial communities of all cat fleas. We also performed epidemiological surveys of pathogens R. felis, A. baumannii, C. burnetii, and A. phagocytophilum among 165 cat fleas collected from seven provinces in China, while only the DNAs of R. felis (38/165, 23.03%) and C. burnetii (2/165, 1.21%) were obtained. The data provide new insight and understanding of flea intestinal microbiota and support novel information for preventing and controlling fleas and their transmitted diseases.

[Case-control studies of the treatment for the distal clavicle fracture by elastic band inclined "8" fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the treatment for the distal clavicle fracture with two different methods. METHODS: There were 120 cases of the distal clavicle fractures involved in the study. Among them, 75 cases were treated by self-improved elastic band inclined "8" fixation (Manipulation group), 45 cases were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with clavicular hook plate (Operation group). RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between manipulation group (6.71+/-2.35 weeks) and operation group (11.38+/-4.58 weeks) in the time of fracture union (P<0.01); but, there was no statistically significant difference between manipulation group (100%) and operation group (97.8%) in the rate of fracture union (P>0.05). According to the evaluation of shoulder-joint function, 56, 14 and 5 cases obtained excellent, good and bad result respectively in manipulation group; 38, 5 and 2 cases obtained excellent, good and bad respectively in operation group. There was no statistically significant difference between manipulation group (93.3%) and operation group (95.5%) in the rate of excellent and good (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with open reduction and internal fixation with clavicular hook plate, treatment with self-improved elastic band inclined "8" fixation can shorten the union time of fracture and reduce therapeutic risks, so it is an economical, practical and safe method for the distal clavicle fracture.