First detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Central Europe

Bats are an important reservoir for many viral pathogens in humans. However, their role in the transmission of bacterial pathogens is neglected, as is that of their ectoparasites. This study focuses on the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli using partial sequences o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology research (1987) 2022-11, Vol.121 (11), p.3341-3345
Main Authors: Kejíková, Romana, McKee, Clifton, Straková, Petra, Šikutová, Silvie, Mendel, Jan, Rudolf, Ivo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bedbugs
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Brief Report
Disease transmission
Immunology
Medical Microbiology
Microbiology
RNA
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Summary:Bats are an important reservoir for many viral pathogens in humans. However, their role in the transmission of bacterial pathogens is neglected, as is that of their ectoparasites. This study focuses on the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli using partial sequences of gltA (citrate synthase), ssrA (transfer messenger RNA, tmRNA ), and the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as targets. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2/112 (1.79% prevalence) samples from bat bugs. Due to the fact that bat bugs can sporadically bite humans, more extensive surveillance and vector competence studies are needed to ascertain zoonotic risk of bat-associated Bartonella spp.
ISSN:0932-0113
1432-1955
DOI:10.1007/s00436-022-07668-4