Bartonella Species in Wild Rodents and Fleas from Them in Japan

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 73; no. 12; pp. 1561 - 1567
• Main Authors: KABEYA, Hidenori, INOUE, Kai, IZUMI, Yasuhito, MORITA, Tatsushi, IMAI, Soichi, MARUYAMA, Soichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.12.2011; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bartonella; Bartonella - classification; Bartonella - genetics; Bartonella - isolation & purification; Base Sequence; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Ectoparasitic Infestations - parasitology; Ectoparasitic Infestations - veterinary; Female; flea; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - physiology; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Phylogeny; rodent; Rodent Diseases - epidemiology; Rodent Diseases - microbiology; Rodentia; Siphonaptera - classification; Siphonaptera - microbiology; transmission; zoonosis; Japan
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.11-0134

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of fleas for transmission of Bartonella species among wild rodents in Japan. Flea samples were collected from wild rodents and examined genetically for Bartonella infection. Bartonella DNA was detected from 16 of 40 (40.0%) flea samples. Sequence analysis demonstrated that 3 of 16 (18.8%) of the Bartonella-positive animals were infested with fleas from which the closely related Bartonella DNA sequence was detected, indicating that the fleas acquired Bartonella from the infested rodents. The DNA was detected in hemolymph, the midgut and the ovary (only in female), indicating that Bartonella might be colonized through the midgut and distributed into the body.