First detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Central Europe

0561569 - ÚBO 2023 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Kejíková, Romana - McKee, C. - Straková, P. - Šikutová, Silvie - Mendel, Jan - Rudolf, Ivo
First detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Central Europe.
Parasitology Research. Roč. 121, č. 11 (2022), s. 3341-3345. ISSN 0932-0113. E-ISSN 1432-1955
R&D Projects: GA MZd(CZ) NU21-05-00143
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Bartonella spp. * Bat * Cimex pipistrelli * Bat bug
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 2, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00436-022-07668-4.pdf

Bats are an important reservoir for many viral pathogens in humans. However, their role in the transmission of bacterial pathogens is neglected, as is that of their ectoparasites. This study focuses on the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli using partial sequences of gltA (citrate synthase), ssrA (transfer messenger RNA, tmRNA), and the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as targets. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2/112 (1.79% prevalence) samples from bat bugs. Due to the fact that bat bugs can sporadically bite humans, more extensive surveillance and vector competence studies are needed to ascertain zoonotic risk of bat-associated Bartonella spp.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334160