Low occurrence of Bartonella in synanthropic mammals and associated ectoparasites in peri-urban areas from Central-Western and Southern Brazil

Author(s):Show less -

Goncalves, Luiz Ricardo ^{[1, 2]} ; Harrus, Shimon ^[3] ; Herrera, Heitor Miraglia ^[4] ; Gutierrez, Ricardo ^[3] ; Pedrassani, Daniela ^[5] ; Gimenes Nantes, Wesley Arruda ^[4] ; Santos, Filipe Martins ^[4] ; de Oliveira Porfirio, Grasiela Edith ^[6] ; Gomes Barreto, Wanessa Teixeira ^[6] ; de Macedo, Gabriel Carvalho ^[4] ; Assis, William de Oliveira ^[4] ; Vilela Campos, Joao Bosco ^[4] ; Vieira da Silva, Thiago Merighi ^[1] ; Biolchi, Juliano ^[5] ; Marques de Sousa, Keyla Carstens ^[3] ; Nachum-Biala, Yaarit ^[3] ; Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes ^[1] ; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias ^[1] ; Andre, Marcos Rogerio ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fac Agr & Vet Sci FCAV UNESP, Dept Vet Pathol, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fac Agr & Vet Sci FCAV UNESP, Grad Program Agr & Livestock Microbiol, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[3] Hebrew Univ Jerusalem, Robert H Smith Fac Agr Food & Environm, Koret Sch Vet Med, Rehovot - Israel

^[4] Univ Catolica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

^[5] Univ Contestado, Dept Vet Med, Canoinhas, SC - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Acta Tropica; v. 207, JUL 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Worldwide, Bartonella species are known to infect a wide range of mammalian and arthropod hosts, including humans. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in synanthropic mammals captured in peri-urban areas from Central-Western and Southern Brazil and their ectoparasites. For this aim, 160 mammals belonging to four species, and 218 associated arthropods were sampled. DNA was extracted and subjected to different Bartonella screening assays. Additionally, blood samples from 48 small rodents were submitted to liquid BAPGM culture followed by qPCR assay and solid culture. Two out of 55 Rattus captured in Santa Catarina state were PCR-positive for Bartonella when targeting the nuoG, 16S, and ITS loci. Sequences showed high homology with Bartonella coopersplainsensis. Conversely, all 48 small rodents, 14 capybaras and 43 opossum DNA samples from animals trapped in Mato Grosso do Sul were Bartonella negative in the HRM real time PCR assays targeting the ITS locus and gltA gene. Additionally, all mammal-associated ectoparasites showed negativity results based on HRM real time PCR assays. The present study showed, for the first time, the occurrence of B. coopersplainsensis in Brazil, shedding some light on the distribution of rats-related Bartonella in South America. In addition, the majority of rodents and marsupials were negative for Bartonella spp. Since B. coopersplainsensis reservoirs - Rattus spp. - are widely dispersed around the globe, their zoonotic potential should be further investigated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/02753-0 - ISOLATION AND GENOTYPING OF Bartonella spp. IN DOMESTIC AND WILD RESERVOIR MAMMALS IN BRAZIL
• Grantee: Marcos Rogério André
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants