Identification of diverse bartonella genotypes among small mammals from Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Abstract
Small mammals from the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo and Tanzania were tested to determine
the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella species. The presence of Bartonella DNA was assessed in spleen
samples of the animals by rpoB- and gltA-polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). By rpoB-PCR, Bartonella was detected
in 8 of 59 animals of DR Congo and in 16 of 39 Tanzanian animals. By gltA-PCR, Bartonella was detected in 5 and
15 animals of DR Congo and Tanzania, respectively. The gene sequences from Arvicanthis neumanni were closely
related to Bartonella elizabethae. The genotypes from Lophuromys spp. and from Praomys delectorum were close to
Bartonella tribocorum. Five genogroups were not genetically related to any known Bartonella species. These results suggest
the need to conduct further studies to establish the zoonotic risks linked with those Bartonella species and, in particular,
to verify whether these agents might be responsible for human cases of febrile illness of unknown etiology in Africa.
Description
Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 87(2), 2012, pp. 319–326
Keywords
Small mammals, Bartonella species, Democratic Republic-Congo (DRC), Bartonella prevalence, Bartonella genetic diversity, Bartonella DNA test