Journal Article

Coxiella and Bartonella spp. in bats (Chiroptera) captured in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome

Ferreira, Michelle Santos, Cordeiro-Estrela, Pedro, Althoff, Sergio Luiz, Silva, Rui Cerqueira da, Brandão, Martha Lima, Novaes, Roberto Leonan Morim, Forneas, Danielle, Del Valle Alvarez, Martín Roberto, Oliveira, Renata Carvalho de, Rozental, Tatiana, Vilar, Emmanuel Messias, Junior, Adonai Alvino, Fernandes, Jorlan, Guterres, Alexandro, Cordeiro, José Luis Passos, Moratelli, Ricardo, Lemos, Elba Regina Sampaio de

2018

Overview

Background The role of bats as reservoirs of zoonotic agents, especially pathogenic bacteria such as Bartonella and Coxiella, has been discussed around the world. Recent studies have identified bats as potential hosts of species from the proteobacteria phylum. In Brazil, however, the role of bats in the natural cycle of these agents is poorly investigated and generally neglected. In order to analyze the participation of bats in the epidemiology of diseases caused by Bartonella , Coxiella , Rickettsia , Anaplasma and Ehrlichia , we conducted a descriptive epidemiological study in three biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Results Tissues of 119 bats captured in preserved areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2015 were submitted to molecular analysis using specific primers. Bartonella spp. was detected in 22 spleen samples (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.9–26.6), whose phylogenetic analysis revealed the generation of at least two independent clusters, suggesting that these may be new unique genotypes of Bartonella species. In addition, four samples (3.4%, 95% CI: 0.9–8.3) were positive for the htpAB gene of C. burnetii [spleen (2), liver (1) and heart (1)]. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma and Ehrlichia were not identified. This is the first study reporting C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. infections in bats from the Atlantic Forest biome. Conclusions These findings shed light on potential host range for these bacteria, which are characterized as important zoonotic pathogens.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Analysis / Anaplasma / Animals / Arthropods / Atlantic Forest hotspot / Bacteria / Bartonella / Bartonella - genetics / Bartonella - isolation & purification / Bartonella Infections - epidemiology / Bartonellosis / Bats / Bats (Animals) / biogeography / Brazil / Brazil - epidemiology / Chiroptera / Chiroptera - microbiology / Coxiella / Coxiella - genetics / Coxiella - isolation & purification / Coxiella burnetii / descriptive studies / DNA, Bacterial / Ecosystems / Ehrlichia / epidemiological studies / Epidemiology / Female / Forests / genes / genotype / Genotypes / Gram-Negative Bacteria / heart / Host range / hosts / Liver / Male / Mammals / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / pathogens / Phylogenetics / Phylogeny / Polymerase Chain Reaction / Primers / Public health / public health and modelling / Research Article / Rickettsia / Rickettsial diseases / Sequence Analysis, DNA / Spleen / Spleen - microbiology / Studies / tissues / Transgenics / veterinary medicine / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / virulent strains / Zoology / Zoonoses / Zoonoses - epidemiology / Zoonotic bacterial agent