The Distribution and Diversity of Bartonella Species in Rodents and Their Ectoparasites across Thailand

Details

• Alternative Title:
  PLoS One
• Personal Author:
  Klangthong, Kewalin ; Promsthaporn, Sommai ; Leepitakrat, Surachai ; Schuster, Anthony L. ; McCardle, Patrick W. ; Kosoy, Michael ; Takhampunya, Ratree
• Description:
  Our study highlights the surveillance of Bartonella species among rodents and their associated ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, lice, and mites) in several regions across Thailand. A total of 619 rodents and 554 pooled ectoparasites (287 mite pools, 62 flea pools, 35 louse pools, and 170 tick pools) were collected from 8 provinces within 4 regions of Thailand. Bandicota indica (279), Rattus rattus (163), and R. exulans (96) were the most prevalent species of rats collected in this study. Real-time PCR assay targeting Bartonella-specific ssrA gene was used for screening and each positive sample was confirmed by PCR using nuoG gene. The prevalence of Bartonella DNA in rodent (around 17%) was recorded in all regions. The highest prevalence of Bartonella species was found in B. savilei and R. rattus with the rate of 35.7% (5/14) and 32.5% (53/163), respectively. High prevalence of Bartonella-positive rodent was also found in B. indica (15.1%, 42/279), and R. norvegicus (12.5%, 5/40). In contrast, the prevalence of Bartonella species in ectoparasites collected from the rats varied significantly according to types of ectoparasites. A high prevalence of Bartonella DNA was found in louse pools (Polyplax spp. and Hoplopleura spp., 57.1%) and flea pools (Xenopsylla cheopis, 25.8%), while a low prevalence was found in pools of mites (Leptotrombidium spp. and Ascoschoengastia spp., 1.7%) and ticks (Haemaphysalis spp., 3.5%). Prevalence of Bartonella DNA in ectoparasites collected from Bartonella-positive rodents (19.4%) was significantly higher comparing to ectoparasites from Bartonella-negative rodents (8.7%). The phylogenetic analysis of 41 gltA sequences of 16 Bartonella isolates from rodent blood and 25 Bartonella-positive ectoparasites revealed a wide range of diversity among Bartonella species with a majority of sequences (61.0%) belonging to Bartonella elizabethae complex (11 rodents, 1 mite pool, and 5 louse pools), while the remaining sequences were identical to B. phoceensis (17.1%, 1 mite pool, 5 louse pools, and 1 tick pool), B. coopersplainensis (19.5%, 5 rodents, 1 louse pool, and 2 tick pools), and one previously unidentified Bartonella species (2.4%, 1 louse pool).
• Subjects:
  Animals Bartonella Bartonella Infections Insect Vectors Mites Phthiraptera Phylogeny Rats Rodent Diseases Rodentia Siphonaptera Ticks

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• Source:
  PLoS One. 10(10).
• Pubmed ID:
  26484537
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4617648
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Thailand
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  10
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:1f81c907ff4f4f9ac318a08851602668c989d53f91620ed6c9471094eca5a069
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/35511/cdc_35511_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 397.38 KB ]