Bartonella spp. in households with cats: Risk factors for infection in cats and human exposure

Triatoma rubrofasciata as a potential vector for bartonellosis

Bartonella spp. are most often transmitted by arthropod vectors or animal bites and scratches. However, the vector species involved in the transmission of human bartonellosis remain poorly understood. This study investigated the presence of Bartonella in Triatoma rubrofasciata from Guangxi and Hainan provinces in China, evaluating its potential as a vector. Bartonella was identified in T. rubrofasciata samples through PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS, gltA, and rpoB genes. The survival duration of Bartonella in triatomines, along with the potential for transovarial transmission was examined. Transmission experiments were conducted to determine whether T. rubrofasciata could transmit Bartonella to mice. Additionally, Bartonella spp. were also compared across rats, ticks, and cat fleas collected from the same regions. Results: Six Bartonella species were identified in T. rubrofasciata, including B. rochalimae, B. elizabethae, B. tribocorum, B. queenslandensis, B. silvatica, and B. coopersplainsensis. And the first three species are zoonotic. B. rochalimae and B. elizabethae were able to persist in T. rubrofasciata for at least eight weeks, although transovarial transmission of them was not observed. In comparison to rats, ticks, and cat fleas, T. rubrofasciata exhibited a higher diversity of Bartonella species. Laboratory experiments confirmed that B. elizabethae can infect mice through T. rubrofasciata bites or intraperitoneal injection of T. rubrofasciata feces. This study supports the hypothesis that T. rubrofasciata may serve as a vector for bartonellosis. These results broaden the current understanding of Bartonella transmission dynamics and highlight the potential role of triatomines in the spread of this disease.

Prevalence, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of Bartonella in companion animals, wildlife and fleas from the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, Argentina

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and distribution of Bartonella species in companion animals, wildlife and their associated fleas in different landscapes of the Atlantic Forest ecoregion of Argentina, and to analyse the phylogenetic relationships between the Bartonella species identified in this study in addition to those found in other regions available in GenBank. A total of 257 mammals, including rodents, opossums, dogs and cats, were examined to detect the presence of Bartonella in both fleas and host tissues. The study revealed the presence of Bartonella in rodent fleas (47.7%), opossum fleas (7.8%), rodent spleens (6.5%) and cat blood (10%). Analysis of 15 gltA gene fragments revealed the existence of at least three different genotypes and eight haplotypes. Genetic analysis has established a close association between Bartonella species from mammals and fleas in both the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and the Costanera Sur Reserve in Argentina. Bartonella henselae (Regnery et al.) Brenner et al. (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) was identified in three rodent species: Rattus rattus (L.; Muridae), Akodon montensis Thomas (Cricetidae) and Calomys tener Winge (Cricetidae). This marks the first report of B. henselae in R. rattus in Argentina, as well as the initial documentation of its association with A. montensis and C. tener. Additionally, Bartonella clarridgeiae Lawson and Collins (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) was identified in feline blood and in fleas from dogs and cats. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of areas undergoing deforestation, where interactions between wild and domestic hosts increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. A One Health approach is crucial to understand transmission dynamics and to address the challenges posed by fleas as infection amplifiers and spillover phenomena. These present significant challenges for public health and biodiversity conservation.

Bartonellosis in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bartonella is a vector-borne zoonotic pathogen, which could also be transmitted directly and cause a variety of clinical illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella in countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO-EMR) region. We searched using the keywords Bartonella and the name of each country in the WHO-EMR in databases such as PubMed, ISI (Web of Science), Scopus, and Google Scholar, with a publication date range of 1990-2022 and limited to English articles. We evaluated the quality of the studies using the STROBE 6-item checklist and used the random effects model to integrate the findings of the included studies. A total of 45 papers out of 240 were included in the analysis. The results showed the prevalence of Bartonella infection among endocarditis patients was 3.8% (95% CI: 0.2-7.4) and the seroprevalence of Bartonella among other people was 27.5% (95% CI: 13.5-41.5). The overall prevalence of Bartonella spp. among animals, as determined by molecular, serological, and culture methods, was 11.9% (95% CI: 5.7-18.2), 38.9% (95% CI: 27.5-50.2), and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.5-2.9), respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in ectoparasites was 3.9% (95% CI: 3.5-5.2), with fleas (6.2%) showing a higher prevalence compared to lice (4.9%) and ticks (1.0%). The detection of Bartonella in all animal and ectoparasites species and human populations in the WHO-EMR with prevalence ranging from 0.3% to 23% is concerning, emphasizes the importance of conducting more comprehensive studies to gain a deeper understanding of the spread of Bartonella in these areas.

First report of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae carriage in stray cats from Ecuador and its link to a cat scratch disease outbreak in 2022

INTRODUCTION

The genus Bartonella includes species and subspecies of fastidious, facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacilli that infect a wide variety of mammalian reservoirs including cats and humans. In 2022, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health reported an outbreak of cat scratch disease caused by B. henselae in the city of Guayaquil. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the presence of Bartonella spp. in domestic and stray cats from the area of Guayaquil where the outbreak happened in 2022.

METHODS

Whole blood samples of 100 domestic and stray cats were collected. Riboflavin synthase (ribC) and 16S rRNA genes detection was performed by PCR using Bartonella spp. specific primers, followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTS

14 cats were positive for Bartonella spp. carriage. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of 12 cats infected with B. henselae and 2 cats with B. clarridgeiae.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high prevalence of Bartonella spp. carriage in cats in the city of Guayaquil within the area where a recent cat scratch disease outbreak happened. Considering the high presence of cats and other domestic and stray animals in the city of Guayaquil, a One Health approach for surveillance and prevention of zoonotic diseases like cat scratch disease is needed.

Bartonella species bacteremia in association with adult psychosis

Introduction

The potential role of pathogens, particularly vector-transmitted infectious agents, as a cause of psychosis has not been intensively investigated. We have reported a potential link between Bartonella spp. bacteremia and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to further assess whether Bartonella spp. exposure or infection are associated with psychosis.

Methods

In a blinded manner, we assessed the presence of anti-Bartonella antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA), and infection by amplification of bacterial DNA from blood by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in 116 participants. Participants were categorized into one of five groups: 1) controls unaffected by psychosis (n = 29); 2) prodromal participants (n = 16); 3) children or adolescents with psychosis (n = 7); 4) adults with psychosis (n = 44); and 5) relatives of a participant with psychosis (n = 20).

Results

There was no significant difference in Bartonella spp. IFA seroreactivity between adults with psychosis and adult controls unaffected by psychosis. There was a higher proportion of adults with psychosis who had Bartonella spp. DNA in the bloodstream (43.2%) compared to adult controls unaffected by psychosis (14.3%, p = 0.021). The Bartonella species was determined for 18 of the 31 bacteremic participants, including infection or co-infection with Bartonella henselae (11/18), Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (6/18), Bartonella quintana (2/18), Bartonella alsatica (1/18), and Bartonella rochalimae (1/18).

Discussion

In conjunction with other recent research, the results of this study provide justification for a large national or international multi-center study to determine if Bartonella spp. bacteremia is more prevalent in adults with psychosis compared to adults unaffected by psychosis. Expanding the investigation to include a range of vector-borne and other microbial infections with potential CNS effects would enhance knowledge on the relationship between psychosis and infection.

Differentiation of Synanthropic Fleas from Andalusia (Spain) through Geometric Morphometrics Analysis

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are ectoparasitic hematophagous insects responsible for causing bites and itchy skin conditions in both humans and animals. Furthermore, they can act as vectors of different pathogens of a wide variety of diseases worldwide, including bartonellosis, rickettsiosis, and bubonic plague. Accurate identification of fleas is necessary for the study of their epidemiology, prevention, and control. In addition to traditional morphological classification approaches and molecular biology techniques, geometric morphometrics is increasingly proving to be a useful complementary tool for discriminating between Siphonaptera taxa. With the objective of determining the capacity of this technique to identify and differentiate synanthropic fleas, a principal component analysis was carried out on populations of Ctenocephalides felis, Pulex irritans, and Archaeopsylla erinacei collected in distinct regions of Andalusia (Spain). The analysis carried out on 81 male and female specimens revealed factorial maps that allowed the differentiation of the populations under study, with only partial overlaps that did not prevent their correct identification. Global size differences were also detected, with a slightly larger size in P. irritans males and a bigger size in A. erinacei females. Therefore, the present study emphasizes the role of geometric morphometrics as a useful complementary technique in taxonomic studies of arthropods, especially in the case of flea specimens lacking representative morphological features.

A systematic review on antibiotic therapy of cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis not related to major immunocompromising conditions: from pathogenesis to treatment

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis (cBA) is a vascular proliferative disorder due to Bartonella spp. that mostly affects people living with HIV (PLWH), transplanted patients and those taking immunosuppressive drugs. Since cBA is mostly related to these major immunocompromising conditions (i.e., T-cell count impairment), it is considered rare in relatively immunocompetent patients and could be underdiagnosed in them. Moreover, antimicrobial treatment in this population has not been previously investigated.

METHODS

We searched the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, OpenAIRE and ScienceDirect by screening articles whose title included the keywords "bacillary" AND "angiomatosis" and included case reports about patients not suffering from major immunocompromising conditions to provide insights about antibiotic treatments and their duration.

RESULTS

Twenty-two cases of cBA not related to major immunocompromising conditions were retrieved. Antibiotic treatment duration was shorter in patients with single cBA lesion than in patients with multiple lesions, including in most cases macrolides and tetracyclines.

CONCLUSIONS

cBA is an emerging manifestation of Bartonella spp. infection in people not suffering from major immunocompromising conditions. Until evidence-based guidelines are available, molecular tests together with severity and extension of the disease can be useful to personalize the type of treatment and its duration.

Salivary glands of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis: Dissection and microscopy guide

Fleas are morphologically unique ectoparasites that are hardly mistaken for any other insect. Most flea species that feed on humans and their companion animals, including the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), have medical and veterinary importance. Besides facilitating blood acquisition, salivary biomolecules can modulate pathogen transmission. Thus, dissection of salivary glands is essential for comprehensive studies on disease vectors like the cat flea. Herein, we present the pictorial dissection protocol assisting future research targeting individual flea organs, for revealing their roles in vector competence and physiology. We provide a comprehensive guide, allowing researchers, even with limited practical experience, to successfully perform microdissection for collecting cat flea salivary glands. Furthermore, the protocol does not require expensive, sophisticated equipment and can be accomplished with routinely available tools. We illustrated expected results with morphological changes of salivary glands upon blood feeding as well as fluorescently stained these organs.

Genetic diversity of Bartonella rpoB haplotypes in domestic cats from Chile

The study aimed to determine the inter and intra-host Bartonella spp. genetic diversity in cats from Chile. 'Seventy-nine cats' blood DNA samples qPCR Bartonella spp. positive were subjected to T-A cloning of Bartonella spp. rpoB partial gene (825 bp), and sequencing by Sanger method. The sequences were submitted to phylogenetic and polymorphism analysis. Thirty-six (45.6%) samples were successfully cloned, generating 118 clones of which 109 showed 99.6%-100% identity with Bartonella henselae whereas 9 showed 99.8-100% identity with Bartonella koehlerae. Haplotype analysis yielded 29 different rpoB-B. henselae haplotypes, one (hap#2) overrepresented in 31 out of 33 cats, and 4 rpoB-B. koehlerae haplotypes, with hap#2 represented in all 3 B. koehlerae infected cats. More than one rpoB -B. henselae and B. koehlerae haplotypes were identified in individual cats, reporting by first time coinfection by different B. henselae/B. koehlerae rpoB variants in cats from Chile.

Molecular survey and phylogenetic analysis of Bartonella sp., Coxiella sp., and hemoplamas in pudu (Pudu puda) from Chile: first report of Bartonella henselae in a wild ungulate species

Introduction

Recent evidence shows a high diversity of infectious agents in wildlife that represent a threat to human, domestic, and wild animal health. In Chile, wild populations of the most common cervid species, pudu (Pudu puda), have been reported as hosts for novel pathogens such as Mycoplasma ovis-like and a novel ecotype of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A better understanding of the epidemiology of this group and other intracellular bacteria that might have cervids as hosts would enlighten their population relevance. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of Bartonella spp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Coxiella burnetii in pudus from Chile.

Methods

The DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 69 wild free-ranging and 30 captive pudus from Chile. A combination of real-time (nouG gene for Bartonella and IS1111 element for C. burnetii) and conventional PCR (16S rRNA for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. and rpoB, gltA, and ITS for Bartonella spp.) was used for pathogen screening and molecular characterization.

Results

DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 10.1% [95% CI (5.2-18.2%)] samples, hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 1.7% [95% CI (0.08-10.1%)], and C. burnetii in 1.0% [95% CI (0.05-6.3%)] samples. Two sequenced samples were identified as Mycoplasma ovis-like, and one free-ranging pudu was positive for C. burnetii. While one captive and two free-ranging pudus were positive for Bartonella henselae, one wild pudu was co-positive for B. henselae and Bartonella sp., similar to Bartonellae identified in ruminants.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. henselae in wild ungulate species, and C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. in wild ungulate species in South America. Further research will be necessary to evaluate the potential role of pudu as reservoirs of infection and identify the sources for disease transmission among humans and wild and domestic animals.

Draft genomes of 16 Bartonella henselae strains from cats in Valdivia, Chile

Bartonella henselae is a primary zoonotic agent, having cats as asymptomatic reservoirs. In humans, it causes cat scratch disease. Here, we report the whole genome sequences of 16 strains isolated from cats in Valdivia city, Southern Chile. Strains showed little variability in the multilocus sequence typing profiles.