Prevalence, diversity, and host associations of Bartonella strains in bats from Georgia (Caucasus)

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2017-04, Vol.11 (4), p.e0005428-e0005428
• Main Authors: Urushadze, Lela, Bai, Ying, Osikowicz, Lynn, McKee, Clifton, Sidamonidze, Ketevan, Putkaradze, Davit, Imnadze, Paata, Kandaurov, Andrei, Kuzmin, Ivan, Kosoy, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aircraft components; Analysis; Animals; Bacilli; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Bartonella; Bartonella - genetics; Bartonella - isolation & purification; Bartonella Infections - epidemiology; Bartonella Infections - veterinary; Bartonellosis; Bats; Bats (Animals); Biodiversity; Biology and Life Sciences; Chiroptera - microbiology; Collection; Colonies; Computer and Information Sciences; Data acquisition; Data processing; Discrimination; Disease control; Disease prevention; Diseases; Division; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Ectoparasites; Endocarditis; Endothelial cells; Erythrocytes; Ethics; Female; Genetic aspects; Genetic distance; Genetic diversity; Genetic markers; Genetic Variation; Genotypes; Geographical distribution; Georgia (Republic) - epidemiology; GltA gene; Health surveillance; Host Specificity; Identification methods; Infectious diseases; Infestation; Loci; Male; Mammals; Markers; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mountains; New records; Pathogens; Phylogeny; Population genetics; Public health; Rabies; Research and Analysis Methods; Species diversity; Studies; Surveillance; Swarming; Tropical diseases; Vectors; Vectors (Biology); Zoology; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005428

Bartonella infections were investigated in seven species of bats from four regions of the Republic of Georgia. Of the 236 bats that were captured, 212 (90%) specimens were tested for Bartonella infection. Colonies identified as Bartonella were isolated from 105 (49.5%) of 212 bats Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence variation of the gltA gene differentiated 22 unique Bartonella genogroups. Genetic distances between these diverse genogroups were at the level of those observed between different Bartonella species described previously. Twenty-one reference strains from 19 representative genogroups were characterized using four additional genetic markers. Host specificity to bat genera or families was reported for several Bartonella genogroups. Some Bartonella genotypes found in bats clustered with those identified in dogs from Thailand and humans from Poland.