Molecular Detection of Bartonella alsatica in European Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Andalusia (Spain)

Abstract

A sample of 279 European wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (141 males, 138 females), captured alive in Andalusia (Spain) and belonging to the two haplotype classes previously described for this species (230 and 49 corresponding with haplotypes A and B, respectively), were tested for the presence of Bartonella alsatica DNA. Two species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction assays targeting for 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and RNA polymerase β subunit genes have been developed. Forty-eight (17.20%) rabbits were infected with B. alsatica. Two-way contingency table analyses and the calculation of Cramer's V statistic showed no differences in infection rate, considering haplotype lineage or sex. The risk of infection of human population, especially for hunters in close contact with this demonstrated human pathogen, should be considered.

Detection of Bartonella alsatica in European wild rabbit and their fleas (Spilopsyllus cuniculi and Xenopsylla cunicularis) in Spain

“…The main difference between both Genbank accessed sequences is the deletion in HM060955 of the track TCTTATGAATTTATTTATA between positions 696 to 714 of AF312506 (97% homology) in HM060955. We consider that the prevalence of such variant in rabbits is very low in South Spain (less than 1%) [ 17 ]. A phylogenetic tree considering phylogenetic relations among B. alsatica and other Bartonella species appears in [ 23 ].…”

“…DNA extracts were stored at −20°C until further processing. DNA from each pool of fleas was tested by PCR using the primers, URBarto1 (5′- CTT CGT TTC TCT TTC TTC A) [ 18 ] and Balsatrev1 (5′- CTT CTC TTC ACA ATT TCA TT) [ 17 ] for the first amplification round, and Balsatfor2 (5′ – CGT TTC TCT TTC TTC AGA TG) and Balsatrev2 (5′- TCA CAA TTT CAT TAG AAC AAG) [ 17 ], which amplify specifically a fragment of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ITS) of the B. alsatica . As negative control, in addition to extraction blanks, DNA from five wild rabbits, five pools of Ctenocephalides felis and four pools of Pulex irritans fleas, all negative for B. alsatica, has been included [ 19 ].…”

“…The development and distribution of fleas, especially S. cuniculi, can be affected by the environment within the rabbit’s burrows [ 15 , 16 ]. Molecular detection of B. alsatica (taken from ear pinnae) has been recently reported with a prevalence of 17.2% over a large sample of wild rabbits in Southern areas of Iberian Peninsula [ 17 ].…”

Molecular Detection ofBartonella alsaticain Rabbit Fleas, France

“…Although S. cuniculi fleas are rare on cats, this study demonstrates that cats in contact with rabbits may be infected by these fleas and consequently become a potential source for B. alsatica transmission to humans. Márquez has also recently reported the molecular detection of B. alsatica in blood from 48/279 (17.2%) of wild rabbits ( O. cuniculus ) in Andalusia, Spain ( 8 ). …”

Presence of Bartonella Species in Wild Carnivores of Northern Spain

“…In Spain, six different Bartonella species have been described so far (B. henselae, B. quintana, B. clarridgeiae, B. taylorii, B. alsatica, and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii), affecting humans, cats, dogs, rabbits, and small mammals (10,19,21,(23)(24)(25). More recently, the use of new molecular tools has allowed us to detect a large repertoire of Bartonella species and genotypes circulating among the small mammals in the Basque Country, Northern Spain (12).…”