<i>Bartonella</i> Species in Wild Rodents and Fleas from Them in Japan

Public Health

Bartonella Species in Wild Rodents and Fleas from Them in Japan

Hidenori KABEYA, Kai INOUE, Yasuhito IZUMI, Tatsushi MORITA, Soichi IMAI, Soichi MARUYAMA

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Keywords: Bartonella, flea, rodent, transmission, zoonosis

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2011 Volume 73 Issue 12 Pages 1561-1567

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0134

View "Advance Publication" version (July 27, 2011).

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of fleas for transmission of Bartonella species among wild rodents in Japan. Flea samples were collected from wild rodents and examined genetically for Bartonella infection. Bartonella DNA was detected from 16 of 40 (40.0%) flea samples. Sequence analysis demonstrated that 3 of 16 (18.8%) of the Bartonella-positive animals were infested with fleas from which the closely related Bartonella DNA sequence was detected, indicating that the fleas acquired Bartonella from the infested rodents. The DNA was detected in hemolymph, the midgut and the ovary (only in female), indicating that Bartonella might be colonized through the midgut and distributed into the body.

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