Figure 2
From: Dissemination of bloodmeal acquired Rickettsia felis in cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis
Rickettsial dissemination in R. felis -infected fleas over 28 days. 1 dpe: Ingested rickettsiae in gut and vacuoles. 7 dpe: rickettsiae occupied gut epithelium starting at the specialized cells forming the cardia (foregut/midgut junction) and the hindgut. 14 dpe: rickettsial propagation and accumulation in gut epithelium resulting in enlargement. Rickettsiae could be observed in lumen, rectal ampulla, and abdomen in a mycetome-like formation. 21-28 dpe: rickettsiae dispersed throughout body cavity and residing in other organs. CD: cardia, HG: hindgut, MG: midgut, PV: proventriculus, OV: ovaries, SG: salivary glands.