1. Low occurrence of Bartonella in synanthropic mammals and associated ectoparasites in peri-urban areas from Central-Western and Southern Brazil.
- Author
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Gonçalves, Luiz Ricardo, Harrus, Shimon, Herrera, Heitor Miraglia, Gutiérrez, Ricardo, Pedrassani, Daniela, Nantes, Wesley Arruda Gimenes, Santos, Filipe Martins, Porfírio, Grasiela Edith de Oliveira, Barreto, Wanessa Teixeira Gomes, de Macedo, Gabriel Carvalho, Assis, William de Oliveira, Campos, João Bosco Vilela, da Silva, Thiago Merighi Vieira, Biolchi, Juliano, de Sousa, Keyla Carstens Marques, Nachum-Biala, Yaarit, Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes, Machado, Rosangela Zacarias, and André, Marcos Rogério
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ECTOPARASITES , *BARTONELLA , *ANIMAL traps , *MAMMALS , *RATS , *MARSUPIALS , *OPOSSUMS - Abstract
• Bartonella coopersplainsensis DNA was detected, for the first time, in Brazil. • Most screened mammal and ectoparasite DNA samples were negative for Bartonella spp. • Distinct ecological and biological factors might have influenced the prevalence observed. 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. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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