Hedgehogs and Squirrels as Hosts of Zoonotic Bartonella Species

0554290 - BC 2022 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Majerová, Karolina - Gutierrez, R. - Fonville, M. - Hönig, Václav - Papezik, P. - Hofmannová, L. - Lesiczka, P.M. - Nachum-Biala, Y. - Růžek, Daniel - Sprong, H. - Harrus, S. - Modrý, David - Votýpka, Jan
Hedgehogs and Squirrels as Hosts of Zoonotic Bartonella Species.
Pathogens. Roč. 10, č. 6 (2021), č. článku 686. E-ISSN 2076-0817
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-16009S; GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000759
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : arthropod-borne pathogens * keds melophagus-ovinus * molecular-detection * small mammals * sheep keds * phylogenetic analysis * ground-squirrels * wild carnivores * rodents * fleas * Bartonella grahamii * B. melophagi * B. rochalimae * B. washoensis * 'Candidatus B. rudakovii' * hedgehogs * squirrels * multiple PCR * vector-borne diseases * zoonoses
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 4.531, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/686

Free-living animals frequently play a key role in the circulation of various zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods and infect a large range of mammals. Although only several species have been identified as causative agents of human disease, it has been proposed that any Bartonella species found in animals may be capable of infecting humans. Within a wide-ranging survey in various geographical regions of the Czech Republic, cadavers of accidentally killed synurbic mammalian species, namely Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), were sampled and tested for Bartonella presence using multiple PCR reaction approach targeting several DNA loci. We demonstrate that cadavers constitute an available and highly useful source of biological material for pathogen screening. High infection rates of Bartonella spp., ranging from 24% to 76%, were confirmed for all three tested mammalian species, and spleen, ear, lung and liver tissues were demonstrated as the most suitable for Bartonella DNA detection. The wide spectrum of Bartonella spp. that were identified includes three species with previously validated zoonotic potential, B. grahamii, B. melophagi and B. washoensis, accompanied by 'Candidatus B. rudakovii' and two putative novel species, Bartonella sp. ERIN and Bartonella sp. SCIER.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0328925