Multilocus sequence analysis of Bartonella strains isolated from small rodents (2025)

Genetic characterization of Bartonella spp. from rodents

Part of this research is funded by the European Social Fund under the Nr. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-09-0270 “Development of Competences of Scientists, other Researchers and Students through Practical Research Activities” measureBartonella are facultative intracellular, fastidious, gram-negative bacteria that are transmitted to mammals and humans by bloodsucking arthropod vectors. Currently, 45 official and candidate Bartonella species have been detected in vertebrates, and at least twenty of them have been detected in rodents. Several rodent-associated Bartonella species have been related to human diseases. However, there is a lack of studies on the presence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in rodents from Baltic region. We analyzed 580 individuals belonging to eight small rodent species, trapped in Lithuania during 2015 – 2016. The presence of Bartonella DNA was examined by real-time PCR targeting the ssrA gene. Species identification and molecular characterization of bacteria strains were ...

Prospective Studies of Bartonella of Rodents. Part II. Diverse Infections in a Single Rodent Community

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2004

The genetic diversity of Bartonella species within a small mammal community and in individual cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) was examined by trapping, capturing, sampling, and releasing of marked animals over a 17-month interval. Based on sequence analyses of the Bartonella gltA gene, amplicons separated into four genogroups (A, B, C, and Pin) containing 11 variants. Although the prevalence of bacteremia due to different genogroups/variants of Bartonella was temporally variable, variants of genogroup A predominated during each sampling period. Multiple gltA variants were often (20.5% of individuals) isolated from a single cotton rat blood sample; a maximum of five variants was recovered from an individual during its sampling history. Among 92 cotton rats bacteremic at two or more sampling dates, 34 rats retained a single genetic variant, alone or in mixed infection, throughout their sampling history. The temporal course of individual infections was complex as the succession of gltA variants was variable and detectable bacteremia was often intermittent. No antibodies (titer of Ͼ1:8) were detected to homologous strains of Bartonella recovered from individual cotton rats during their sampling history. The temporal course of Bartonella infections could result from a single, persistent, and potentially multi-genogroup/variant infection, during which variants differentially dominate the detectable bacteremia.

Molecular detection of Bartonella species in rodents from the Lao PDR

Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2009

Bartonella spp. in Rats and Zoonoses, Los Angeles, California, USA

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2012

Molecular detection of Bartonella species infecting rodents in Slovenia

FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, 2007

Rodents, collected in three zoogeographical regions across Slovenia, were tested for the presence of bartonellae using direct PCR-based amplification of 16S/23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region (ITS) fragments from splenic DNA extracts. Bartonella DNA was detected in four species of rodents, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus agrarius and Clethrionomys glareolus, in all three zoogeographic regions at an overall prevalence of 40.4%. The prevalence of infection varied significantly between rodent species and zoogeographical regions. Comparison of ITS sequences obtained from bartonellae revealed six sequence variants. Four of these matched the ITS sequences of the previously recognized species, Bartonella taylorii, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella doshiae and Bartonella birtlesii, but one was new. The identity of the bartonellae from which the novel ITS sequences was obtained were further assessed by sequence analysis of cell division protein-encoding gene (ftsZ) fragments. This analysis demonstrated that the strain is most likely a representative of possible new species within the genus.

Biomolecular Investigation of Bartonella spp. in Wild Rodents of Two Swiss Regions

Pathogens

Rodents represent a natural reservoir of several Bartonella species, including zoonotic ones. In this study, small wild rodents, collected from two sites in rural areas of Switzerland, were screened for Bartonella spp. using molecular detection methods. In brief, 346 rodents were trapped in two rural sites in the Gantrisch Nature Park of Switzerland (Plasselb, canton of Fribourg, and Riggisberg, canton of Bern). Pools of DNA originating from three animals were tested through a qPCR screening and an end-point PCR, amplifying the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic transcribed spacer region and citrate synthase (gltA) loci, respectively. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from spleen samples belonging to single animals of gltA positive pools, and gltA and RNA polymerase subunit beta (rpoB) were detected by end-point PCR. Based on PCR results and sequencing, the prevalence of infection with Bartonella spp. in captured rodents, was 21.10% (73/346): 31.78% in Apodemus sp. (41/129), 10.47% in Arvic...

Natural history of Bartonella -infecting rodents in light of new knowledge on genomics, diversity and evolution

Future Microbiology, 2013

Prevalence and Diversity of Bartonella Species in Rodents from Georgia (Caucasus)

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2016

Bartonella infections are widespread and highly prevalent in rodents. Several rodent-associated Bartonella species have been related to human diseases. Recently, Bartonella species was reported as the etiology of a human case in the country of Georgia (Caucasus). However, information on Bartonella in rodents in Georgia is absent. Rodent hearts were collected from Georgia to investigate the presence and diversity of Bartonella species. Bartonella bacteria were cultured from 37.2% (16/43) of rodents examined, while Bartonella DNA was detected in 41.2% (28/68) of rodents by polymerase chain reaction targeting citrate synthase (gltA) gene. Sequences of gltA showed that rodents in this region harbored multiple Bartonella strains, including Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella grahamii, and an unknown genogroup. The first three Bartonella species, known to be rat-associated and human cases linked, were commonly observed in wood mice (Apodemus [Sylvaemus] uralensis) (5/8 positive with B. elizabethae and B. tribocorum) and social voles (Microtus socialis) (4/6 positive with B. grahamii and B. elizabethae) in this study. The frequent distribution of these Bartonella species suggests that they may contribute to unidentified clinical infections. The unknown genogroup was observed in 24 Bartonella isolates and/or DNA extracts from heart tissues, all of which were obtained from Libyan jirds (Meriones libycus). Further characterization of the bacterial cultures based on sequence analysis of four additional genes (ftsZ, nuoG, rpoB, and ssrA) supported that the jird-associated Bartonella strains comprise a distinct monophyletic clade. The impact of this bacterium on wildlife and human health needs to be determined.

Characterization of Bartonella taylorii Strains in Small Mammals of the Turkish Thrace

2020

Rodents play role as a reservoir for some Bartonella species which cause different clinical manifestations in humans. Bartonella spp. existence in rodents of Turkish Thrace has been detected for the first time, and the risky habitat types were evaluated for the infection. Ninety individuals belonging to three small rodent species were screened by PCR, and the overall prevalence of Bartonella infection was 22.2%. The strains were characterized molecularly based on the phylogenetic analyses of two housekeeping genes, rpoB and gltA. They clustered with B. taylorii. The significant effects of habitat types and rodent species on Bartonella infections were observed. It was detected that B. taylorii prevalence was the highest in the swamp forest habitat and A. flavicollis species. The present study demonstrates that A. flavicollis is the reservoir of B. taylorii in the European part of Turkey.

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Bartonella spp. in Small Mammals from Southeastern Asia

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2012

Here, we describe for the first time the prevalence and genetic properties of Bartonella organisms in wild rodents in Japan. We captured 685 wild rodents throughout Japan (in 12 prefectures) and successfully isolated Bartonella organisms from 176 of the 685 rodents (isolation rate, 25.7%). Those Bartonella isolates were all obtained from the rodents captured in suburban areas (rate, 51.8%), but no organism was isolated from the animals captured in city areas. Sequence analysis of rpoB and gltA revealed that the Bartonella isolates obtained were classified into eight genetic groups, comprising isolates closely related to B. grahamii group), B. tribocorum and B. elizabethae (B-J group), B. tribocorum and B. rattimassiliensis (C-K group), B. rattimassiliensis (D-L group), B. phoceensis ( , and probably two additional novel Bartonella species groups (E-M and H-P). B. grahamii, which is one of the potential causative agents of human neuroretinitis, was found to be predominant in Japanese rodents. In terms of the relationships between these Bartonella genetic groups and their rodent species, (i) the A-I, E-M, and H-P groups appear to be associated with Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus; (ii) the C-K, D-L, and F-N groups are likely implicated in Rattus rattus; (iii) the B-J group seems to be involved in Apodemus mice and R. rattus; and (iv) the G-O group is probably associated with A. speciosus and Clethrionomys voles. Furthermore, dual infections with two different genetic groups of bartonellae were found in A. speciosus and R. rattus. These findings suggest that the rodent in Japan might serve as a reservoir of zoonotic Bartonella infection.