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Annals of Parasitology 2018Bartonellosis is a disease caused by Bartonella spp. microorganisms which belong to the Rickettsiales order. This disease is a zoonosis, B. henselae, whose primary... (Review)
Review
Bartonellosis is a disease caused by Bartonella spp. microorganisms which belong to the Rickettsiales order. This disease is a zoonosis, B. henselae, whose primary reservoir is the cat, which in humans causes a cat-scratch disease. In infected cats, symptoms such as fever, lymphedema, reproduction disorders, myocarditis, rhinotracheitis, gingivitis, and arthritis may be observed. Bartonella appears to be transmitted among cats and dogs in vivo exclusively by arthropod vectors (excepting perinatal transmission), not by biting or scratching. In the absence of these vectors, the disease does not spread. On the other hand, the disease can be spread to humans by bites and scratches, and it is highly likely that it is spread by arthropod vectors as well. This review presents a potential role of ticks and fleas in the transmission of bartonellosis. Clinicians should be aware that a common illness, such as infection with Bartonella, can be transmitted by arthropod vectors, and that a history of animal scratches or bites is not necessary for disease transmission.
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Vectors; Bartonella Infections; Cat Diseases; Cats; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
PubMed: 30720968
DOI: 10.17420/ap6404.165 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Feb 2006Bartonella quintana, a pathogen that is restricted to human hosts and louse vectors, was first characterized as the agent of trench fever. The disease was described in... (Review)
Review
Bartonella quintana, a pathogen that is restricted to human hosts and louse vectors, was first characterized as the agent of trench fever. The disease was described in 1915 on the basis of natural and experimental infections in soldiers. It is now recognized as a reemerging pathogen among homeless populations in cities in the United States and Europe and is responsible for a wide spectrum of conditions, including chronic bacteremia, endocarditis, and bacillary angiomatosis. Diagnosis is based on serologic analysis, culture, and molecular biology. Recent characterization of its genome allowed the development of modern diagnosis and typing methods. Guidelines for the treatment of B. quintana infections are presented.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Bartonella quintana; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Female; Humans; Pediculus; Trench Fever
PubMed: 16494745
DOI: 10.3201/eid1202.050874 -
Parasites & Vectors Jan 2022There is limited clinical or epidemiological knowledge regarding Bartonella infection in cats, and no serological studies have compared the presence of antibodies...
BACKGROUND
There is limited clinical or epidemiological knowledge regarding Bartonella infection in cats, and no serological studies have compared the presence of antibodies against different Bartonella species. Moreover, there are limited feline Bartonella studies investigating co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens and the associated risk factors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate Bartonella spp. infections and co-infections with other pathogens in cats from Barcelona (Spain) based on serological and/or molecular techniques and to determine associated risk factors.
METHODS
We studied colony and owned cats (n = 135). Sera were tested for Bartonella henselae-, Bartonella quintana-, and Bartonella koehlerae-specific antibodies using endpoint in-house immunofluorescence antibody assays. Bartonella real-time PCR (qPCR) and conventional PCR (cPCR) were performed. In addition, cPCR followed by DNA sequencing was performed for other pathogenic organisms (Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, hemotropic Mycoplasma, and Theileria spp.).
RESULTS
From 135 cats studied, 80.7% were seroreactive against at least one Bartonella species. Bartonella quintana, B. koehlerae, and B. henselae seroreactivity was 67.4, 77.0, and 80.7%, respectively. Substantial to almost perfect serological agreement was found between the three Bartonella species. Colony cats were more likely to be Bartonella spp.-seroreactive than owned cats. Moreover, cats aged ≤ 2 years were more likely to be Bartonella spp.-seroreactive. Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in the blood of 11.9% (n = 16) of cats. Cats were infected with B. henselae (n = 12), B. clarridgeiae (n = 3), and B. koehlerae (n = 1). Mycoplasma spp. DNA was amplified from 14% (n = 19) of cat blood specimens. Cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis (n = 8), Candidatus M. haemominutum (n = 6), Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (n = 4), and Mycoplasma wenyonii (n = 1). Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon, and Theileria spp. DNA was not amplified from any blood sample. Of the 16 Bartonella spp.-infected cats based on PCR results, six (37%) were co-infected with Mycoplasma spp.
CONCLUSIONS
Bartonella spp. and hemoplasma infections are prevalent in cats from the Barcelona area, whereas infection with Anaplasma spp., Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon, and Theileria infections were not detected. Co-infection with hemotropic Mycoplasma appears to be common in Bartonella-infected cats. To our knowledge, this study is the first to document M. wenyonii is infection in cats.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antigens, Bacterial; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Spain
PubMed: 34983610
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05105-6 -
Parasites & Vectors Aug 2022Bartonella spp. are vector-borne pathogens that cause zoonotic infections in humans. One of the most well-known of these is cat-scratch disease caused by Bartonella...
BACKGROUND
Bartonella spp. are vector-borne pathogens that cause zoonotic infections in humans. One of the most well-known of these is cat-scratch disease caused by Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae, with cats being the major reservoir for these two bacteria. Izmir, Turkey is home to many stray cats, but their potential role as a reservoir for the transmission of Bartonella to humans has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella species and their genetic diversity in stray cats living in Izmir.
METHODS
Molecular prevalence of Bartonella spp. in stray cats (n = 1012) was investigated using a PCR method targeting the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer gene (ITS), species identification was performed by sequencing and genetic diversity was evaluated by haplotype analysis.
RESULTS
Analysis of the DNA extracted from 1012 blood samples collected from stray cats revealed that 122 samples were Bartonella-positive, which is a molecular prevalence of 12.05% (122/1012; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.1-14.2%). Among the Bartonella-positive specimens, 100 (100/122; 81.96%) were successfully sequenced, and B. henselae (45/100; 45%), B. clarridgeiae (29/100; 29%) and Bartonella koehlerae (26/100; 26%) were identified by BLAST and phylogenetic analyses. High genetic diversity was detected in B. clarridgeiae with 19 haplotypes, followed by B. henselae (14 haplotypes) and B. koehlerae (8 haplotypes).
CONCLUSIONS
This comprehensive study analyzing a large number of samples collected from stray cats showed that Bartonella species are an important source of infection to humans living in Izmir. In addition, high genetic diversity was detected within each Bartonella species.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella henselae; Cat Diseases; Cats; Genetic Variation; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Turkey
PubMed: 36038877
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05431-3 -
Epidemiology and Infection Jul 2017The order Chiroptera is considered the second largest group of mammals in the world, hosting important zoonotic virus and bacteria. Bartonella and hemotropic mycoplasmas...
The order Chiroptera is considered the second largest group of mammals in the world, hosting important zoonotic virus and bacteria. Bartonella and hemotropic mycoplasmas are bacteria that parasite different mammals' species, including humans, causing different clinical manifestations. The present work aimed investigating the occurrence and assessing the phylogenetic positioning of Bartonella spp. and Mycoplasma spp. in neotropical bats sampled from Brazil. Between December 2015 and April 2016, 325 blood and/or tissues samples were collected from 162 bats comprising 19 different species sampled in five states of Brazil. Out of 322 bat samples collected, while 17 (5·28%) were positive to quantitative PCR for Bartonella spp. based on nuoG gene, 45 samples (13·97%) were positive to cPCR assays for hemoplasmas based on 16S rRNA gene. While seven sequences were obtained for Bartonella (nuoG) (n = 3), gltA (n = 2), rpoB (n = 1), ftsZ (n = 1), five 16S rRNA sequences were obtained for hemoplasmas. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Bartonella sequences clustered with Bartonella genotypes detected in bats sampled in Latin America countries. All five hemoplasmas sequences clustered together as a monophyletic group by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. The present work showed the first evidence of circulation of Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas among bats in Brazil.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Brazil; Chiroptera; DNA, Bacterial; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma Infections; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 28502279
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268817000966 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Mar 2010As worldwide vectors of human infectious diseases, ticks are considered to be second only to mosquitoes. Each tick species has preferred environmental conditions and... (Review)
Review
As worldwide vectors of human infectious diseases, ticks are considered to be second only to mosquitoes. Each tick species has preferred environmental conditions and biotopes that determine its geographic distribution, the pathogens it vectors, and the areas that pose risk for tick-borne diseases. Researchers have identified an increasing number of bacterial pathogens that are transmitted by ticks, including Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia spp. Recent reports involving humans and canines suggest that ticks should be considered as potential vectors of Bartonella spp. To strengthen this suggestion, numerous molecular surveys to detect Bartonella DNA in ticks have been conducted. However, there is little evidence that Bartonella spp. can replicate within ticks and no definitive evidence of transmission by a tick to a vertebrate host.
Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; DNA, Bacterial; Humans; Species Specificity; Ticks
PubMed: 20202411
DOI: 10.3201/eid1603.081685 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Apr 2023In this study, we investigated infection and its genetic diversity in rodents in Beitun, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Small mammals were captured using snap...
In this study, we investigated infection and its genetic diversity in rodents in Beitun, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Small mammals were captured using snap traps at four sampling sites in 2018. Spleen and liver tissues were collected and cultured to isolate strains. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on the strains identified as by gene PCR, and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the genomes was calculated by using FastANI v1.33. Phylogenetic trees were constructed for the samples positive for spp. by the PCR assay based on 1,290-bp genes, 2,903-bp genes, and core-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among 66 rodents, 11 were positive for , with an infection rate of 16.67%. The rodent infection rates in different tissues (χ = 2.133; = 0.242), species (χ = 9.631; = 0.141), and habitats (χ = 4.309; = 0.312) did not show statistical differences. spp. isolated from the rodents were phylogenetically divided into six clades (two different species were detected in two rodents). By comparing phylogenetic trees based on genes, genes, and SNPs, we found that the topological structures of several evolutionary trees are different. However, the strains isolated in this study were clustered into six clusters in different phylogenetic trees. Broad distributions and high genetic diversity of strains were observed among rodents in Beitun, Xinjiang. Rodent-borne species have been associated with zoonotic diseases. species such as Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella grahamii, and Bartonella tribocorum can cause disease in humans. Humans can be infected by blood-sucking arthropods through the scratches and bites of an infected reservoir host or via contact with infectious rodents. Xinjiang is one of the provinces with the most abundant species of in China, but there are few reports about the prevalence of in the Beitun area. This research aims to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of infection in rodents at these sampling sites and provide a basis for the prevention and control of rodent species in Beitun and the surrounding areas of Xinjiang.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Rodentia; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; China
PubMed: 36951592
DOI: 10.1128/aem.01964-22 -
Parasites & Vectors Sep 2023Pathogens face strong selection from host immune responses, yet many host populations support pervasive pathogen populations. We investigated this puzzle in a model...
BACKGROUND
Pathogens face strong selection from host immune responses, yet many host populations support pervasive pathogen populations. We investigated this puzzle in a model system of Bartonella and rodents from Israel's northwestern Negev Desert. We chose to study this system because, in this region, 75-100% of rodents are infected with Bartonella at any given time, despite an efficient immunological response. In this region, Bartonella species circulate in three rodent species, and we tested the hypothesis that at least one of these hosts exhibits a waning immune response to Bartonella, which allows reinfections.
METHODS
We inoculated captive animals of all three rodent species with the same Bartonella strain, and we quantified the bacterial dynamics and Bartonella-specific immunoglobulin G antibody kinetics over a period of 139 days after the primary inoculation, and then for 60 days following reinoculation with the same strain.
RESULTS
Contrary to our hypothesis, we found a strong, long-lasting immunoglobulin G antibody response, with protective immunological memory in all three rodent species. That response prevented reinfection upon exposure of the rodents to the same Bartonella strain.
CONCLUSIONS
This study constitutes an initial step toward understanding how the interplay between traits of Bartonella and their hosts influences the epidemiological dynamics of these pathogens in nature.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella; Immunoglobulin G; Kinetics; Immunity
PubMed: 37667323
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05918-7 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2022In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Bartonella infections in small mammals from the central region of the...
In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Bartonella infections in small mammals from the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Toward this, small mammals were captured using snap traps in Yushu City and Nangqian County, West China, and the spleen tissue was used for Bartonella culture. The suspected positive colonies were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and by sequencing the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. We discovered that 31 out of the 103 small mammals tested positive for Bartonella, with an infection rate of 30.10%. Sex differences between the mammals did not result in a significant difference in infection rate (χ = 0.018, P = 0.892). However, there was a significant difference in infection rates in different small mammals (Fisher's exact probability method, P = 0.017) and habitats (χ = 7.157, P = 0.028). Additionally, 31 Bartonella strains belonging to three species were identified, including B. grahamii (25), B. japonica (4) and B. heixiaziensis (2), among which B. grahamii was the dominant epidemic strain (accounting for 80.65%). Phylogenetic analyses showed that most of the B. grahamii isolates identified in this study may be closely related to the strains isolated from Japan and China. Genetic diversity analyses revealed that B. grahamii strains had high genetic diversity, which showed a certain host and geographical specificity. The results of Tajima's test suggested that the B. grahamii followed the progressions simulated by a neutral evolutionary model in the process of evolution. Overall, a high prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella infection were observed in small mammals in the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. B. grahamii as the dominant epidemic strain may cause diseases in humans, and the corresponding prevention and control measures should be taken into consideration in this area.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; China; DNA, Bacterial; Female; Genetic Variation; Humans; Male; Mammals; Phylogeny; Rodentia; Tibet
PubMed: 35488125
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11419-x -
Virulence Dec 2024Gram-negative species are facultative intracellular bacteria that can survive in the harsh intracellular milieu of host cells. They have evolved strategies to evade... (Review)
Review
Gram-negative species are facultative intracellular bacteria that can survive in the harsh intracellular milieu of host cells. They have evolved strategies to evade detection and degradation by the host immune system, which ensures their proliferation in the host. Following infection, alters the initial immunogenic surface-exposed proteins to evade immune recognition via antigen or phase variation. The diverse lipopolysaccharide structures of certain species allow them to escape recognition by the host pattern recognition receptors. Additionally, the survival of mature erythrocytes and their resistance to lysosomal fusion further complicate the immune clearance of this species. Certain species also evade immune attacks by producing biofilms and anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreasing endothelial cell apoptosis. Overall, these factors create a challenging landscape for the host immune system to rapidly and effectively eradicate the species, thereby facilitating the persistence of infections and creating a substantial obstacle for therapeutic interventions. This review focuses on the effects of three human-specific species, particularly their mechanisms of host invasion and immune escape, to gain new perspectives in the development of effective diagnostic tools, prophylactic measures, and treatment options for infections.
Topics: Humans; Bartonella; Immune Evasion; Bartonella Infections; Apoptosis; Biofilms; Membrane Proteins
PubMed: 38443331
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2322961