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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals
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Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 22061

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Arto Pulliainen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biomedicine, Research Unit for Infection and Immunity, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
Interests: bacteriology; bacterial exotoxins; cell signaling; ADP-ribosylation; protein chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bartonella are globally distributed zoonotic bacterial pathogens causing a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in humans and animals. Bartonella are highly prevalent in wild mammals throughout the world, in particular in rodents and bats. Infections in these reservoir hosts are typically asymptomatic. Bacteria reside in high numbers in their circulatory systems and appear to be transmitted via ectoparasites or direct tissue trauma, as well as to incidental hosts such as humans. Numerous recent reports describe the isolation and characterization of new strains and species of Bartonella. Bartonella DNA, and in some cases viable bacteria, have also been detected in a number of different ectoparasites. In clinical settings, Bartonella infections are rare, in particular in humans, which contrasts with the large environmental reservoir of Bartonella. However, Bartonella infections are actively debated as being neglected or emerging infections. This is largely due to (i) slow in vitro growth properties of Bartonella, excluding the typical culture-based identification of patient samples; (ii) relatively weak antibody responses complicating the typical serology-based identification from patient samples; (iii) the apparent chronic and stealthy course of infection with occasional peaks of bacteremia; and (iv) a general lack of awareness of Bartonella infections among clinicians and veterinarians.

In this Special Issue, I invite reviews or original research articles related to Bartonella infections in humans and animals with a special emphasis on the mechanisms of transmission, on the prevalence values and findings in diagnostic settings, as well as on the signs and symptoms of infections.

Dr. Arto Pulliainen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Bartonella
  • zoonosis
  • ectoparasite
  • transmission
  • reservoir host
  • incidental host
  • diagnostic findings
  • infection prevalance
  • geographical distribution
  • infection symptoms
  • one health

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 10180 KiB  
Article
Molecular Survey and Genetic Diversity of Bartonella spp. in Small Indian Mongooses (Urva auropunctata) and Their Fleas on Saint Kitts, West Indies
by Alex Mau, Ana Cláudia Calchi, Pedro Bittencourt, Maria Jose Navarrete-Talloni, Caroline Sauvé, Anne Conan, Marcos Rogério André, Patrick Kelly and Ananda Müller
Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071350 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3866
Abstract
This study aimed to molecularly survey and evaluate the genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in mongooses and their fleas from St. Kitts. Spleen (n = 54), blood (n = 71), and pooled flea samples, all identified as Ctenocephalides felis (n [...] Read more.
This study aimed to molecularly survey and evaluate the genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in mongooses and their fleas from St. Kitts. Spleen (n = 54), blood (n = 71), and pooled flea samples, all identified as Ctenocephalides felis (n = 53), were submitted to TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting Bartonella-nuoG fragment (84 bp). Positive samples underwent further conventional PCR assays targeting five loci (gltA, rpoB, fstZ, nuoG, and ITS), subsequent sequencing, and phylogenetic and haplotype analyses. The overall occurrence of Bartonella spp. in mongooses and fleas was 51.2% (64/125 [95% CI (42.1–60.2%)]) and 62.3% (33/53) [95% CI (47.9–75.2%)]), respectively. From samples sequenced across the five loci, 50.8% (33/65) were identified as Bartonella henselae, 26.2% (17/65) were 96.74–99.01% similar by BLAST analysis to an unidentified Bartonella sp. previously reported in Japanese badgers (Meles anakuma), and 23.1% (15/65) were co-infected with both species. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis showed low diversity amongst haplotypes but did concur with phylogenetic analysis, placing the unidentified species in a separate clade from B. henselae by multiple mutational events. Our data confirms that mongooses and Ctenocephalides felis fleas collected from them are not only potential reservoirs for B. henselae but also a novel Bartonella sp. which we propose be called ‘Candidatus Bartonella kittensis’. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
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8 pages, 253 KiB  
Communication
Serological and Molecular Evidence of Bartonella henselae in Stray Cats from Southern Italy
by Francesca Grippi, Paola Galluzzo, Annalisa Guercio, Valeria Blanda, Francesco Santangelo, Sonia Sciortino, Domenico Vicari, Francesca Arcuri, Santina Di Bella and Alessandra Torina
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050979 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Bartonella henselae is a slow growing and facultative intracellular pathogen mainly transmitted by arthropod vectors adapted to domestic and wild mammalian reservoir hosts. Since cats are the major source of the B. henselae infection, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and the [...] Read more.
Bartonella henselae is a slow growing and facultative intracellular pathogen mainly transmitted by arthropod vectors adapted to domestic and wild mammalian reservoir hosts. Since cats are the major source of the B. henselae infection, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and the DNA presence in randomly sampled stray cats. Blood samples of 429 cats were collected from shelter of Palermo (Southern Italy) and sera and whole blood were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against B. henselae by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Two hundred and three sera (47.3%) were positive to IFA and 148 blood samples (34.5%) to real-time PCR. Based on serological results, the evaluation of the potential risk factors (sex, age, coat color) was carried out. The multivariate analysis indicated that cats more than 12 months old were more likely to be seropositive to B. henselae than cats <12 months. These data will add useful information to the understanding of the spread of B. henselae in stray cats in Southern Italy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
12 pages, 554 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Transmission Paths for Three Different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Using Artificial Feeding
by Nina Król, Nina Militzer, Elisa Stöbe, Ard M. Nijhof, Martin Pfeffer, Volkhard A. J. Kempf and Anna Obiegala
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050901 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3380
Abstract
Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella [...] Read more.
Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
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15 pages, 8623 KiB  
Article
First Detection of Bartonella spp. in Small Mammals from Rice Storage and Processing Facilities in Myanmar and Sri Lanka
by Inga Böge, Martin Pfeffer, Nyo M. Htwe, Pyai P. Maw, Siriwardana Rampalage Sarathchandra, Vincent Sluydts, Anna P. Piscitelli, Jens Jacob and Anna Obiegala
Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030658 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3008
Abstract
(1) Background: Bartonella spp. are zoonotic bacteria with small mammals as main reservoirs. Bartonella spp. prevalence in small mammals from Myanmar and Sri Lanka are yet unknown. (2) Methods: Small mammals were snap trapped in Sri Lanka and Myanmar in urban surroundings. Spleens-derived [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Bartonella spp. are zoonotic bacteria with small mammals as main reservoirs. Bartonella spp. prevalence in small mammals from Myanmar and Sri Lanka are yet unknown. (2) Methods: Small mammals were snap trapped in Sri Lanka and Myanmar in urban surroundings. Spleens-derived DNA was screened for Bartonella spp. using conventional PCR based on three target genes. Positive samples were sequenced. (3) Results: 994 small mammals were collected comprising 6 species: Bandicota bengalensis, Bandicota indica, Rattus exulans, Rattus rattus, Mus booduga, and Suncus murinus. In Myanmar, the Bartonella prevalence in Bandicoot rats (68.47%) was higher than in Rattus rattus (41.67%), Rattus exulans (21.33%), and Suncus murinus (3.64%). Furthermore the prevalence in Myanmar (34%, n = 495) was twice as high as in Sri Lanka (16%, n = 499). In Sri Lanka, Bartonella spp. occurred almost exclusively in R. rattus. In Myanmar, Bartonella kosoyi was mainly detected (56%), followed by Bartonella sp. KM2529 (15%), Bartonella sp. SE-Bart D (12%) and Bartonella henselae (1%). In Sri Lanka, B. phoceensis (60%) and Bartonella sp. KM2581 (33%) were predominant. (4) Conclusions: Bartonella spp. were detected in all investigated small mammal species from Myanmar and Sri Lanka for the first time. Bartonella kosoyi and B. henselae are zoonotic. As these small mammals originated from urban settlements, human bartonellosis seems likely to occur. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
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Review

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14 pages, 989 KiB  
Review
What Is in a Cat Scratch? Growth of Bartonella henselae in a Biofilm
by Udoka Okaro, Sierra George and Burt Anderson
Microorganisms 2021, 9(4), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040835 - 14 Apr 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6284
Abstract
Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) is a gram-negative bacterium that causes cat scratch disease, bacteremia, and endocarditis, as well as other clinical presentations. B. henselae has been shown to form a biofilm in vitro that likely plays a role in the establishment [...] Read more.
Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) is a gram-negative bacterium that causes cat scratch disease, bacteremia, and endocarditis, as well as other clinical presentations. B. henselae has been shown to form a biofilm in vitro that likely plays a role in the establishment and persistence of the bacterium in the host. Biofilms are also known to form in the cat flea vector; hence, the ability of this bacterium to form a biofilm has broad biological significance. The release of B. henselae from a biofilm niche appears to be important in disease persistence and relapse in the vertebrate host but also in transmission by the cat flea vector. It has been shown that the BadA adhesin of B. henselae is critical for adherence and biofilm formation. Thus, the upregulation of badA is important in initiating biofilm formation, and down-regulation is important in the release of the bacterium from the biofilm. We summarize the current knowledge of biofilm formation in Bartonella species and the role of BadA in biofilm formation. We discuss the evidence that defines possible mechanisms for the regulation of the genes required for biofilm formation. We further describe the regulation of those genes in the conditions that mimic both the arthropod vector and the mammalian host for B. henselae. The treatment for persistent B. henselae infection remains a challenge; hence, a better understanding of the mechanisms by which this bacterium persists in its host is critical to inform future efforts to develop drugs to treat such infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
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Other

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7 pages, 1467 KiB  
Case Report
A Case of Atypical Bartonellosis in a 4-Year-Old Immunocompetent Child
by Chiara Sodini, Elena Mariotti Zani, Francesco Pecora, Cristiano Conte, Viviana Dora Patianna, Giovanni Prezioso, Nicola Principi and Susanna Esposito
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050950 - 28 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2654
Abstract
In most cases, infection due to Bartonella henselae causes a mild disease presenting with a regional lymphadenopathy frequently associated with a low-grade fever, headache, poor appetite and exhaustion that spontaneously resolves itself in a few weeks. As the infection is generally transmitted by [...] Read more.
In most cases, infection due to Bartonella henselae causes a mild disease presenting with a regional lymphadenopathy frequently associated with a low-grade fever, headache, poor appetite and exhaustion that spontaneously resolves itself in a few weeks. As the infection is generally transmitted by cats through scratching or biting, the disease is named cat scratch disease (CSD). However, in 5–20% of cases, mainly in immunocompromised patients, systemic involvement can occur and CSD may result in major illness. This report describes a case of systemic CSD diagnosed in an immunocompetent 4-year-old child that can be used as an example of the problems that pediatricians must solve to reach a diagnosis of atypical CSD. Despite the child’s lack of history suggesting any contact with cats and the absence of regional lymphadenopathy, the presence of a high fever, deterioration of their general condition, increased inflammatory biomarkers, hepatosplenic lesions (i.e., multiple abscesses), pericardial effusion with mild mitral valve regurgitation and a mild dilatation of the proximal and medial portion of the right coronary artery, seroconversion for B. henselae (IgG 1:256) supported the diagnosis of atypical CSD. Administration of oral azithromycin was initiated (10 mg/kg/die for 3 days) with a progressive normalization of clinical, laboratory and US hepatosplenic and cardiac findings. This case shows that the diagnosis of atypical CSD is challenging. The nonspecific, composite and variable clinical features of this disease require a careful evaluation in order to achieve a precise diagnosis and to avoid both a delayed diagnosis and therapy with a risk of negative evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bartonella Infections in Humans and Animals)
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