Two Bartonella strains from blood of two wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) living in a rural environment were isolated. These strains were distinct from all previously known Bartonella species based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. This new species is distinguished by its trypsin-like activity, the absence of the ability to hydrolyse proline and tributyrin, its 165 rRNA and citrate synthase gene sequences and by whole-DNA hybridization data. This new species, for which the name Bartonella tribocorum sp. nov. is proposed, seems to be genetically related to Bartonella elizabethae, an agent isolated in a case of human endocarditis. The type strain of Bartonella tribocorum sp. nov. is IBS 506T (CIP 105476T).

The genus Bartonella comprises two human-specific pathogens and a growing number of zoonotic or animal-specific species. Domesticated as well as wild mammals can serve as reservoir hosts for the zoonotic agents and transmission to humans may occur by blood sucking arthropods or by direct blood to blood contact. Humans may come into intimate contact with free-ranging mammals during hunting, especially during evisceration with bare hands, when accidental blood to blood contact frequently occurs. The objective of this work was to determine the presence and the polymorphism of Bartonella strains in wild roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as the most widely spread game in Western Europe. We report the isolation of four Bartonella strains from the blood of five roe deer. These strains carry polar flagella similar to Bartonella bacilliformis and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Based on their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, three of the four roe deer isolates were different and they were all distinct from previously described Bartonella species.

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The kinetics of infection and the pathogenic effects on the reproductive function of laboratory mice infected with Bartonella birtlesii recovered from an Apodemus species are described. B. birtlesii infection, as determined by bacteremia, occurred in BALB/c mice inoculated intravenously. Inoculation with a low-dose inoculum (1.5 ؋ 10 3 CFU) induced bacteremia in only 75% of the mice compared to all of the mice inoculated with higher doses (>1.5 ؋ 10 4 ). Mice became bacteremic for at least 5 weeks (range, 5 to 8 weeks) with a peak ranging from 2 ؋ 10 3 to 10 5 CFU/ml of blood. The bacteremia level was significantly higher in virgin females than in males but the duration of bacteremia was similar. In mice infected before pregnancy (n ‫؍‬ 20), fetal loss was evaluated by enumerating resorption and fetal death on day 18 of gestation. The fetal death and resorption percentage of infected mice was 36.3% versus 14.5% for controls (P < 0.0001). Fetal suffering was evaluated by weighing viable fetuses. The weight of viable fetuses was significantly lower for infected mice than for uninfected mice (P < 0.0002). Transplacental transmission of Bartonella was demonstrated since 76% of the fetal resorptions tested was culture positive for B. birtlesii. The histopathological analysis of the placentas of infected mice showed vascular lesions in the maternal placenta, which could explain the reproductive disorders observed. BALB/c mice appeared to be a useful model for studying Bartonella infection. This study provides the first evidence of reproductive disorders in mice experimentally infected with a Bartonella strain originating from a wild rodent.

Three strains isolated from Apodemus spp. were similar to Bartonella species on the basis of phenotypic characteristics. Futhermore, genotypic analysis based on sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and gltA genes and on DNA-DNA hybridization showed that the three isolates represented a distinct and new species of Bartonella. The name Bartonella birtlesii is proposed for the new species. The type strain of B. birtlesii sp. nov. is IBS 325 T (l CIP 106294 T l CCUG 44360 T ).