Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success
Abstract Background Bartonella spp. cause persistent bacterial infections in mammals. Although these bacteria are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, there is also evidence for vertical transmission in their mammalian hosts. We aimed to determine: (i) the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3047-6 |
| _version_ | 1818029688524636160 |
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| author | Katarzyna Tołkacz Mohammed Alsarraf Maciej Kowalec Dorota Dwużnik Maciej Grzybek Jerzy M. Behnke Anna Bajer |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Tołkacz Mohammed Alsarraf Maciej Kowalec Dorota Dwużnik Maciej Grzybek Jerzy M. Behnke Anna Bajer |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Tołkacz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Bartonella spp. cause persistent bacterial infections in mammals. Although these bacteria are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, there is also evidence for vertical transmission in their mammalian hosts. We aimed to determine: (i) the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in a Microtus spp. community; (ii) whether vertical transmission occurs from infected female voles to their offspring; (iii) the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on the success of vertical transmission of Bartonella; and (iv) the impact of congenital infection on pup survival. Results We sampled 124 Microtus arvalis, 76 Microtus oeconomus and 17 Microtus agrestis. In total, 115 embryos were isolated from 21 pregnant females. In the following year 11 pregnant females were kept until they had given birth and weaned their pups (n = 62). Blood smears and PCR targeting the Bartonella-specific rpoB gene fragment (333bp) were used for the detection of Bartonella. Bartonella DNA was detected in 66.8% (145/217) of the wild-caught voles. Bartonella infection was detected in 81.8% (36/44) of pregnant female voles. Bartonella-positive individuals were identified among the embryos (47.1%; 40/85) and in 54.8% (34/62) of pups. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infections and co-infection with B. microti had no impact on the survival of pups over a 3-week period post partum. Among 113 Bartonella sequences, four species were detected: Bartonella taylorii, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella doshiae and a Bartonella rochalimae-like genotype. Bartonella taylorii clade B was the dominant species in wild-caught voles (49%), pregnant females (47%), their embryos (85%), dams (75%) and pups (95%). Conclusions High prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection maintained in Microtus spp. community is followed by a high rate of vertical transmission of several rodent species of Bartonella in three species of naturally infected voles, M. arvalis, M. oeconomus and M. agrestis. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infection does not affect the survival of pups. Co-infection with B. microti does not affect the effectiveness of the vertical transmission of Bartonella in voles. Bartonella taylorii clade B was found to be the dominant species in wild-caught voles, including pregnant females and dams, and in their offspring, and was also found to be the most successful in vertical transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:23:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-caa87123144c40acaa4aa8576564870b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:23:40Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-caa87123144c40acaa4aa8576564870b2022-12-22T02:00:45ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052018-08-0111111510.1186/s13071-018-3047-6Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its successKatarzyna Tołkacz0Mohammed Alsarraf1Maciej Kowalec2Dorota Dwużnik3Maciej Grzybek4Jerzy M. Behnke5Anna Bajer6Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawDepartment of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawDepartment of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawDepartment of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawDepartment of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of GdanskSchool of Life Sciences, University of NottinghamDepartment of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawAbstract Background Bartonella spp. cause persistent bacterial infections in mammals. Although these bacteria are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, there is also evidence for vertical transmission in their mammalian hosts. We aimed to determine: (i) the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in a Microtus spp. community; (ii) whether vertical transmission occurs from infected female voles to their offspring; (iii) the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on the success of vertical transmission of Bartonella; and (iv) the impact of congenital infection on pup survival. Results We sampled 124 Microtus arvalis, 76 Microtus oeconomus and 17 Microtus agrestis. In total, 115 embryos were isolated from 21 pregnant females. In the following year 11 pregnant females were kept until they had given birth and weaned their pups (n = 62). Blood smears and PCR targeting the Bartonella-specific rpoB gene fragment (333bp) were used for the detection of Bartonella. Bartonella DNA was detected in 66.8% (145/217) of the wild-caught voles. Bartonella infection was detected in 81.8% (36/44) of pregnant female voles. Bartonella-positive individuals were identified among the embryos (47.1%; 40/85) and in 54.8% (34/62) of pups. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infections and co-infection with B. microti had no impact on the survival of pups over a 3-week period post partum. Among 113 Bartonella sequences, four species were detected: Bartonella taylorii, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella doshiae and a Bartonella rochalimae-like genotype. Bartonella taylorii clade B was the dominant species in wild-caught voles (49%), pregnant females (47%), their embryos (85%), dams (75%) and pups (95%). Conclusions High prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection maintained in Microtus spp. community is followed by a high rate of vertical transmission of several rodent species of Bartonella in three species of naturally infected voles, M. arvalis, M. oeconomus and M. agrestis. Congenitally acquired Bartonella infection does not affect the survival of pups. Co-infection with B. microti does not affect the effectiveness of the vertical transmission of Bartonella in voles. Bartonella taylorii clade B was found to be the dominant species in wild-caught voles, including pregnant females and dams, and in their offspring, and was also found to be the most successful in vertical transmission.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3047-6Babesia microtiBartonellaCongenital infectionMicrotusPolandVector-borne zoonotic diseases |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Tołkacz Mohammed Alsarraf Maciej Kowalec Dorota Dwużnik Maciej Grzybek Jerzy M. Behnke Anna Bajer Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success Parasites & Vectors Babesia microti Bartonella Congenital infection Microtus Poland Vector-borne zoonotic diseases |
| title | Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success |
| title_full | Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success |
| title_fullStr | Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success |
| title_short | Bartonella infections in three species of Microtus: prevalence and genetic diversity, vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent Babesia microti infection on its success |
| title_sort | bartonella infections in three species of microtus prevalence and genetic diversity vertical transmission and the effect of concurrent babesia microti infection on its success |
| topic | Babesia microti Bartonella Congenital infection Microtus Poland Vector-borne zoonotic diseases |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3047-6 |
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