Bartonella species pathogenic for humans infect pets, free-ranging wild mammals and their ectoparasites in the Caatinga biome, Northeastern Brazil: a serological and molecular study

Abstract

This study verified the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in dogs, cats, wild mammals and their ectoparasites in Petrolina and Lagoa Grande Counties, Pernambuco, located in a semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. Anti-Bartonella spp. antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 24.8% of dogs (27/109) and in 15% of cats (6/40). Bartonella sp. DNA was identified by PCR performed on DNA extracted from blood and ectoparasites using primers targeting Bartonella sp. gltA and ribC genes in 100% (9/9) of Pulex irritans from Cerdocyon thous, 57.4% (35/61) of P. irritans from dogs, 2.3% (1/43) of Ctenocephalides felis felis from dogs, 53.3% (24/45) of C. felis felis from cats, and 10% (1/10) of Polyplax spp. from Thrichomys apereoides. DNA sequencing identified Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae in C. felis felis from cats, Bartonella rochalimae in P. irritans from dog and C. thous, and Bartonella vinsoni berkhofii in P. irritans from dog.

Genetic Diversity of Bartonella spp. in Wild Mammals and Ectoparasites in Brazilian Pantanal

“…The found occurrence of Bartonella spp. among wild rodents sampled in the present study was higher (31.8%) than that found among synanthropic rodents (19.2%) in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil [4] and in wild rodents (0%) sampled in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco [6], northeastern Brazil, but similar to that found in a previous recent study involving wild rodents (34.4%) sampled in southern Pantanal [7]. However, the occurrence of Bartonella infection among wild rodents in Pantanal biome in the present study was lower than that found in wild rodents (42.8%) in peri-urban areas from the same state where the present study was performed [5].…”

“…Indeed, fleas are also considered important reservoirs for Bartonella [39]. Recently, B. clarridgeiae and B. henselae were detected in Ctenocephalides felis felis fleas collected from cats in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, Brazil [6].…”

“…In Brazil, Bartonella spp. have been detected in synanthropic rodents in Salvador city, state of Bahia (Atlantic forest biome) [4] and in wild rodents from periurban areas from Mato Grosso do Sul and Pernambuco states [5,6]. Recently, different Bartonella genotypes have been detected in wild and synanthropic rodents from different Brazilian biomes [7].…”

Microorganisms in the ticks Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844 collected from snakes in Brazil

“…In Brazil, the circulation of the agent has been demonstrated in humans, cats, dogs and wild animals using serological and molecular techniques, but only a few ticks were tested for this pathogen and all were shown to be negative for the presence of DNA of Bartonella spp. (Fontalvo et al ., ).…”

Improvement of Bartonella henselae DNA Detection in Cat Blood Samples by Combining Molecular and Culture Methods

“…A high Bartonella prevalence was detected in this study, compared to most other Bartonella sp. cat prevalence studies reported from Brazil (Table 2) (5,6,8,(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Discrepancy among studies may be related to differences in the analytical sensitivity of laboratory diagnostic methods used among different studies.…”