Coxiella and Bartonella spp. in bats (Chiroptera) captured in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome

Abstract

BackgroundThe role of bats as reservoirs of zoonotic agents, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Bartonella and Coxiella, has been discussed around the world. Recent studies have identified bats as potential hosts of species from the proteobacteria phylum. In Brazil, however, the role of bats in the natural cycle of these agents is poorly investigated and generally neglected. In order to analyze the participation of bats in the epidemiology of diseases caused by Bartonella, Coxiella, Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study in three biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.ResultsTissues of 119 bats captured in preserved areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2015 were submitted to molecular analysis using specific primers. Bartonella spp. was detected in 22 spleen samples (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.9–26.6), whose phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of at least two independent clusters, suggesting that these may be new unique genotypes of Bartonella species. In addition, four samples (3.4%, 95% CI: 0.9–8.3) were positive for the htpAB gene of C. burnetii [spleen (2), liver (1) and heart (1)]. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma and Ehrlichia were not identified. This is the first study reporting C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. infections in bats from the Atlantic Forest biome.ConclusionsThese findings shed light on potential host range for these bacteria, which are characterized as important zoonotic pathogens.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1603-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genetic diversity ofBartonellaspp. in vampire bats from Brazil

“…As a consequence, increase survival rates and population density have been reported among D. rotundus populations, especially in areas with available roosts (Schneider et al, ). Even though extensive studies on the role of the common vampire bats in the epidemiology of rabies have been carried out in Latin America, including Brazil (Mayen, ), the information on the circulation of arthropod‐borne bacterial pathogens in these bat species is scarce (Ferreira et al, ).…”

“…Even though Bartonella spp. have been detected in bats (Ferreira et al, ; Ikeda et al, ) and bat flies (do Amaral, ) from Brazil, the genetic diversity of these bacteria in Chiroptera remains poorly assessed in the country. In order to elucidate the ecology of Bartonella infection in bats and decipher the role of vampire bats as reservoir hosts of Bartonella and their impact on human and domestic animal health, the present work investigated the genetic diversity of Bartonella spp.…”

Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in small mammals from Brazilian Amazonia

“…The gamma-proteobacterium Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever/coxiellosis and chronic endocarditis in humans globally (MAURIN & RAOULT 1999). Molecular evidence has revealed that C. burnetti infects humans in Brazil (LEMOS et al, 2011), and that wild mammals could act as natural reservoirs for this agent (ROZENTAL et al, 2017;FERREIRA et al, 2018;ZANATTO et al, 2019).…”

Capybara and Brush Cutter Involvement in Q Fever Outbreak in Remote Area of Amazon Rain Forest, French Guiana, 2014

“…In this outbreak, the capybara appeared to excrete C. burnetii in its feces, which caused environmental contamination that persisted for several months; alternatively, the environment might have still been infectious months later because of recontamination. Other wild animals in the Amazon Rain Forest might also be able to excrete C. burnetii (14,15), so the sites of future outbreaks cannot be predicted. The hazard of a C. burnetii infection probably exists throughout the entire rain forest because no barriers limit animal mobility in this environment.…”