Infection and seroconversion of cats exposed to cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis Bouché) infected with Rickettsia felis.

Cats with no prior exposure to cat fleas were exposed to fleas infected with Rickettsia felis and monitored monthly for seroconversion via an indirect fluorescent assay (IFA). Each of 12 cats continually infested with fleas, seroconverted by four months post-exposure. Three of six cats fed on by 50 fleas for 15 minutes once per week also seroconverted by month four. Rickettsia felis DNA was detected by PCR in the blood of five of the 16 cats.