Genetic diversity of Bartonella infection in residential and field rodents in Hebei, China

Abstract

Rodents are the primary natural reservoirs of Bartonella spp., and some of which are zoonotic causative agents. Hence, surveillance of Bartonella sp. infection in rodents is very important for the prevention of human bartonellosis caused by them. In this study, rodents were captured, and their spleen samples were collected for Bartonella sp. DNA detection and identification by amplifying the 16S rRNA, gltA, and ftsz genes using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results indicated that Bartonella sp. DNA was detected in seven Rattus norvegicus individuals with a detection rate of 6.7% in Chengde City and bacterial DNA in 31 Apodemus agrarius individuals with a detection rate of 28.4% in Handan City. The DNA detection rate across the genders and ages of rodents was not found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, sequence analysis of the above-mentioned three genes demonstrated that at least eight Bartonella species were circulating in Hebei Province, of which three, including Bartonella rattimassiliensis, Bartonella grahamii, and Bartonella tribocorum, are human pathogens, thus suggesting the existence of a major public health risk. Overall, these results revealed the detection rate and genetic diversity of Bartonella species infection in rodents in Hebei Province, which could be potentially helpful for the prevention of bartonellosis caused by rodent-associated Bartonella species. This study highlights the urgent need for the surveillance of Bartonella infections in rodents and ectoparasites that affect both rodents and humans and can cause fever of unknown origin or endocarditis.

Great genetic diversity of vector-borne bacteria and protozoan in wild rodents from Guangxi, China

“…vinsonii , and Bar . washoensis , and all have been identified in China [ 12 ]. Based on the genetic and phylogenetic analysis, four validated Bartonella species, including Bar .…”

“…The presence of microorganisms in rodents was identified by amplifying some marker genes using (semi-)nested PCR [ 12 , 21 , 29 – 32 ]. PrimeSTAR GXL Premix (Takara, Dalian, China) was used in all PCR reaction for the detection of microorganisms.…”

“…Genus Bartonella was identified by amplifying both the gltA and ftsz genes. Primer pairs of Bar-gltA-F (Bar-gltA-FM)/Bar-gltA-R1 and Bar-gltA-F (Bar-gltA-FM)/Bar-gltA-R2 were used for gltA and Bar-ftsz-F1/Bar-ftsz-R (Bar-ftsz-RM) and Bar-ftsz-F2/Bar-ftsz-R (Bar-ftsz-RM) for ftsz gene, respectively [ 12 ]. Primer pairs of New-Babesia-F/New-Babesia-R1 and New-Babesia-F/New-Babesia-R2, designed in this study, were used to identify genera Babesia and Hepatozoon by amplifying18S rRNA gene.…”

“…Therefore, rodents are recognized as the main natural reservoirs of the genus Bartonella [ 11 ]. In China, 22 rodent-associated Bartonella species, including eight pathogenic to humans, have been found so far, indicating a potential risk to humans [ 12 ].…”

“…The subtropical climate and dense vegetation are conducive to the survival of various wild rodents. As the hosts of many vector-borne microorganisms including human pathogens, molecular surveys on vector-borne bacterial and protozoan infections in rodents, including Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella and Babesia , have been performed in many parts of China in the past 20 years [ 12 , 19 , 21 – 26 ]. In recent years, an increasing number of patients presenting with fever but lacking a confirmed viral etiology has been observed mainly in Guangxi.…”