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Alsarraf M, Banasiak Ł, Tołkacz K, Grzybek M, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Alsarraf M, Dwużnik-Szarek D, Juśko M, Al-Qazaz D, Drabik P, Behnke JM, Bajer A. Genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in rodents and fleas from Poland. Sci Rep 2025; 15:10710. [PMID: 40155452 PMCID: PMC11953290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92127-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2025] [Indexed: 04/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Bartonella spp. are parasites of mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells, and are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropod ectoparasites, including fleas. This study aimed to: (i) identify the main flea species responsible for Bartonella transmission and the specific Bartonella species they carry, (ii) evaluate how host-related factors influence the prevalence of Bartonella, (iii) examine the genetic diversity of Bartonella from different flea species and mammalian hosts, including rodents and European moles, and (iv) determine the haplotypes of Bartonella derived from rodents. Blood samples were collected from seven rodent species and two European moles in Poland (n = 994), and fleas were collected from rodents (n = 833). Bartonella spp. were identified and genotyped through rpoB and gltA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two dominant Bartonella spp. in rodents and fleas: B. grahamii and B. taylorii. Moreover, 17 haplotypes of B. taylorii and 9 of B. grahamii were identified. The sequences of Bartonella sp. from T. europaea clustered in a unique separate group, possibly indicating a novel species. The study confirmed fleas as vectors of Bartonella transmission in rodents and highlighted the significant genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in both fleas and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland.
| | - Łukasz Banasiak
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Tołkacz
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, Gdynia, 81-519, Poland
| | - Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
- Department of Forest Entomology and Pathology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Mustafa Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies, CEZAMAT, 19 Poleczki St, Warsaw, 02-822, Poland
| | - Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Monika Juśko
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Dina Al-Qazaz
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Paulina Drabik
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Jerzy M Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
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Schirò G, Pieri D, Lo Valvo M, Gradoni L, Cacciò SM, Severini F, Marucci G, Galuppo L, Cumbo V, Puleio R, Loria GR. Monitoring Campaign over an Edible Dormouse Population ( Glis glis; Rodentia: Gliridae) in Sicily: First Report of Mesocestodiasis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11040934. [PMID: 33806043 PMCID: PMC8064493 DOI: 10.3390/ani11040934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In Nebrodi Park (Sicily, Italy), live many wild mammal species that move closer to human beings every day. The edible dormouse (Glis glis), in 2017 and 2018, was responsible for nut crop damage in the area. For this reason, a sanitary monitoring campaign involving 30 dormice was carried out by collecting rectal and conjunctival swabs and fur and nest content, which were then processed for laboratory examinations. A large presence of fleas belonging to Monopsyllus sciurorum was found. Necropsy of a dead dormouse revealed an infection of Mesocestoides lineatus, whose cysts were found in the abdomen cavity and on the liver; this is the first report of this in this species. Further studies are necessary to identify their role in the environment, considering the limited knowledge of this species in Italy. Abstract This study reports on the health status of the edible dormouse (Glis glis) living in Nebrodi Park (Sicily, Italy), responsible for nut crop damage in the area. In the frame of a monitoring campaign for potential zoonotic risk involving 30 dormice, rectal and conjunctival swabs and fur and nest content were collected for bacteriological and parasitological examinations, respectively. A large presence of fleas belonging to Monopsyllus sciurorum was found. Necropsy of a dead dormouse revealed an infection of Mesocestoides lineatus, whose cysts were found in the abdomen cavity and on the liver; this is the first report of this in this species. Further studies are necessary to identify their role in the environment, considering the limited knowledge of this species in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Schirò
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (V.C.); (R.P.); (G.R.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Domenico Pieri
- STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (D.P.); (M.L.V.)
| | - Mario Lo Valvo
- STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (D.P.); (M.L.V.)
| | - Luigi Gradoni
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.C.); (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Simone Mario Cacciò
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.C.); (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Francesco Severini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.C.); (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.C.); (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Lucia Galuppo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (V.C.); (R.P.); (G.R.L.)
| | - Valentina Cumbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (V.C.); (R.P.); (G.R.L.)
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (V.C.); (R.P.); (G.R.L.)
| | - Guido Ruggero Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (V.C.); (R.P.); (G.R.L.)
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