Candidatus Bartonella antechini: A novel Bartonella species detected in fleas and ticks from the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), an Australian marsupial

Abstract

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Molecular Typing of “Candidatus Bartonella ancashi,” a New Human Pathogen Causing Verruga Peruana

“…For these reasons, PCR and sequencing-based genotyping methods, such as single-gene sequencing and MLST/MST, need to be used for identifying new species of Bartonella from rodents, arthropods, and clinical specimens (9,15,16). MLST methods, which involve concatenating a predetermined number of gene sequences, generally include the housekeeping genes (ftsZ, gltA, groEL, ribC, and rpoB) and rrs for phylogenetic analysis (9,15), while MST is based on the variable 16S/23S intergenic linker region and is valuable for genotyping strains of Bartonella species (8). Additionally, fragments of the gltA and rpoB genes are found to have the highest discriminating power for Bartonella species identification and classification (16).…”

Genetic characterization of flea-derived Bartonella species from native animals in Australia suggests host–parasite co-evolution

“…DNA samples extracted from these fleas were screened for Bartonella species using PCR as described in previous studies (Kaewmongkol et al, 2011a;2011b (in press); 2011c (in press)). and Bartonella species suggests adaptation by Bartonella species to a specific ecological niche which is comprised of specific placental or marsupial hosts and specific flea vectors.…”

“…Bartonella australis was isolated from marsupials (eastern grey kangaroos) in eastern Australia (Fournier et al, 2007). In addition, three new candidate Bartonella species, Candidatus B. antechini, Candidatus B. woyliei and Candidatus B. bandicootii were detected in fleas and ticks collected from native marsupials in Western Australia (Kaewmongkol et al, 2011a;2011b (in press)). Two zoonotic Bartonella species, B. henselae and B.…”

“…1974;Lewis et al, 1993;Whiting et al, 2008), but to the authors' knowledge co-evolution of hosts, vectors and Bartonella species has not been demonstrated. Recently, new Bartonella species and new candidate Bartonella species have been detected in marsupials, mammals and their fleas in Australia (Fournier et al, 2007;Gundi et al, 2009;Kaewmongkol et al, 2011a;2011b (in press)). Three Bartonella species, B. queenslandensis, B. rattaustraliani and B. coopersplainsensis, were previously isolated from native placental mammals (rodents) in Queensland, eastern Australia (Gundi et al, 2009).…”

“…It has been suggested that the close relationship between Bartonella species and fleas may be a contributing factor to the host specificity of these Bartonella species in Australian marsupials (Kaewmongkol et al, 2011a;2011b (in press)). We examine this concept further in the present study by evaluating the genetic relationships among flea species harbouring a variety of Bartonella species and their marsupial hosts in Australia.…”