FIG. 2.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genes encoding Rickettsia genus specific 17-kDa antigen and plasmid from Rickettsia felis (Louisiana State University [LSU])-infected cat flea salivary glands. In cat flea salivary gland samples and cultured R. felis (LSU), portions of genes encoding the 17-kDa antigen and pRF (primers pRFc-d), but not pRFδ (primers pRFa-d), were amplified. The amplification of a portion of pRF with the primer pair pRF(a-b) confirms the inability to detect pRFδ by PCR amplification. An environmental blank processed at the same time as samples and water served as negative controls for the genomic DNA extraction and PCR, respectively. Marker (100 bp) sizes are listed to the left of each gel.