Bartonellaspp. in Bats, Guatemala | CDC EID

Bartonellaspp. in Bats, Guatemala | CDC EID: "EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 7–July 2011
Volume 17, Number 7–July 2011
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Bartonella spp. in Bats, Guatemala

Ying Bai, Comments to Author Michael Kosoy, Sergio Recuenco, Danilo Alvarez, David Moran, Amy Turmelle, James Ellison, Daniel L. Garcia, Alejandra Estevez, Kim Lindblade, and Charles Rupprecht
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA (Y. Bai, M. Kosoy); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Recuenco, A. Turmelle, J. Ellison, C. Rupprecht); Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala (D. Alvarez, D. Moran, A. Estevez); and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Regional Office for Central America and Panama, Guatemala City (D.L. Garcia, K. Lindblade)

Suggested citation for this article


Abstract
To better understand the role of bats as reservoirs of Bartonella spp., we estimated Bartonella spp. prevalence and genetic diversity in bats in Guatemala during 2009. We found prevalence of 33% and identified 21 genetic variants of 13 phylogroups. Vampire bat–associated Bartonella spp. may cause undiagnosed illnesses in humans.

Multiple studies have indicated that bats might serve as natural reservoirs to a variety of pathogens, including rabies virus and related lyssaviruses, Nipah and Hendra viruses, Marburg virus, and others (1,2). Bats' high mobility, broad distribution, social behavior (communal roosting, fission–fusion social structure), and longevity make them ideal reservoir hosts and sources of infection for various etiologic agents. In addition to viruses, bacteria and ectoparasites have been detected in bats (3–5) and can potentially cause human infection (6).

Bartonella spp. have been found in rodents, insectivores, carnivores, ungulates, and many other mammals. Naturally infected hematophagous arthropods, such as fleas, flies, lice, mites, and ticks are frequently implicated in transmitting Bartonella spp. (3–5,7). Detection of Bartonella DNA in the saliva of dogs suggests the possibility that Bartonella spp. can be transmitted through biting (8). Increasing numbers of Bartonella spp. have been identified as human pathogens (9,10). However, a mammalian reservoir has not been determined for some newly identified species, such as B. tamiae (9). Extensive surveillance for Bartonella spp. among diverse groups of animals, including bats, has become crucial.

To our knowledge, Bartonella spp. in bats have been studied only in the United Kingdom and Kenya (11,12). To better understand the role of bats as reservoir hosts of Bartonella spp. and their potential risk for infecting humans and animals, we looked for Bartonella spp. in bats in Guatemala, estimated prevalence, and evaluated the genetic diversity of the circulating Bartonella strains.

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Suggested Citation for this Article

Bai Y, Kosoy M, Recuenco S, Alvarez D, Moran D, Turmelle A, et al. Bartonella spp. in bats, Guatemala. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Jul [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/7/1269.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1707.101867

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Ying Bai, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3150 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA: email: ybai1@cdc.gov