Prevalence of <i>Bartonella</i> species, <i>Rickettsia felis</i>, haemoplasmas and the <i>Ehrlichia</i> group in the blood of cats and fleas in eastern Australia

This is the first Australian study to determine the prevalence of R. felis and B. clarridgeiae in both fleas and the cats from which they were collected. Flea-associated infectious agents are common in cats and fleas in eastern Australia and support the recommendation that stringent flea control be maintained on cats.