High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Abstract. The prevalence and identity of Rickettsia and Bartonella in urban rat and flea populations were evaluated in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by molecular tools. An overall prevalence of 17% Bartonella species and 13% Rickettsia typhi, the agent of murine typhus, was found in the cosmopolitan rat species, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus that were infested by a majority of Xenopsylla cheopis fleas. Bartonella queenslandensis, Bartonella elizabethae, and three Bartonella genotypes were identified by sequencing in rat specimens, mostly in R. rattus. Rickettsia typhi was detected in 72% of X. cheopis pools, the main vector and reservoir of this zoonotic pathogen. Co-infections were observed in rodents, suggesting a common mammalian host shared by R. typhi and Bartonella spp. Thus, both infections are endemic in DRC and the medical staffs need to be aware knowing the high prevalence of impoverished populations or immunocompromised inhabitants in this area.

Bartonella Bacteria in Urban Rats: A Movement From the Jungles of Southeast Asia to Metropoles Around the Globe

“…Two R. rattus and two R. norvegicus captured during this study in a marketplace were co-infected with Bartonella and Rickettsia species (Laudisoit et al, 2014). A strain with 100% homology with the human strain of B. elizabethae was reported in one of the R. norvegicus rats (Laudisoit et al, 2014).…”

“…In another study conducted in Kisangani, the proportion of Bartonella-infected rats was significantly higher in R. rattus (25.0%, 5/20) than in R. norvegicus (15.1%; 16/106) (Laudisoit et al, 2014). Two R. rattus and two R. norvegicus captured during this study in a marketplace were co-infected with Bartonella and Rickettsia species (Laudisoit et al, 2014). A strain with 100% homology with the human strain of B. elizabethae was reported in one of the R. norvegicus rats (Laudisoit et al, 2014).…”

“…One sequence shared 100% homology with B. queenslandensis, a Bartonella species originally described in Australian rats (genera Melomys and Rattus) (Gundi et al, 2009). In another study conducted in Kisangani, the proportion of Bartonella-infected rats was significantly higher in R. rattus (25.0%, 5/20) than in R. norvegicus (15.1%; 16/106) (Laudisoit et al, 2014). Two R. rattus and two R. norvegicus captured during this study in a marketplace were co-infected with Bartonella and Rickettsia species (Laudisoit et al, 2014).…”

16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for epidemiological surveys of bacteria in wildlife: the importance of cleaning post-sequencing data before estimating positivity, prevalence and co-infection

“…Streptobacillus moniliformis has recently been detected in rodents from South Africa [59] and there have been a few reports of human streptobacillosis in Kenya [60] and Nigeria [61]. R. typhi was recently detected in rats from Congo, in Central Africa [62], and human seropositivity for this bacterium has been reported in coastal regions of West Africa [63]. With the exception of one report in Egypt some time ago [64], Mycoplasma has never before been reported in African rodents.…”

Rickettsiae reservoirs among small mammals (Rats, Mice And Shrews) and their Arthropod Vectors in Sri Lanka

“…In northern Germany 33.3% of I. ricinus, a reservoir for R. Helvetica was reported positive (Schicht et al, 2012), and 41.2% of Amblyomma americanum was carrying Rickettsia in USA (Mixson et al, 2006). Of flea species, X. cheopes is considered a reservoir and the main vector for R. typhi, which has been isolated from X. cheopes in several studies (Laudisoit et al, 2014).…”