Bartonella washoensis infection in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lipatova, Indre; Razanske, Irma; Jurgelevicius, Vaclovas; Paulauskas, Algimantas
• Is Part Of: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Volume 68(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Bartonella infection -- Sciurus vulgaris -- Fleas -- Ticks; Communicable diseases in animals -- Periodicals; Veterinary immunology -- Periodicals; Veterinary microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- veterinary -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.08969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101391
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-9571

Abstract

Highlights: Bartonella washoensis was detected in red squirrels and their ectoparasites. Ceratophyllus sciurorum fleas were more infected with B. washoensis than Ixodes ricinus ticks. Infection of B. washoensis varied in different internal organs of squirrels. It is a first report of B. washoensis detection in Europe. Abstract: This is the first study to investigate the presence of Bartonella infections in different internal organs of red squirrels and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. A total of 39 roadkill red squirrels were collected. Squirrels were infested with Ixodes ricinus ticks (191) and Ceratophyllus sciurorum fleas (36). The presence of Bartonella spp. was screened using 16 S–23 S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region and bacteria were detected in 38.5 % (15/39) samples of squirrels, 1.0 % (2/191) samples of ticks and 55.5 % (20/36) samples of fleas. The infection rate of different internal organs of squirrels varied from 11.1%–47.4%. The 16 S–23 S rRNA ITS region sequences showed that Bartonella washoensis were detected in squirrels and their ectoparasites. The results from this study support the hypothesis that S. vulgaris and their fleas, C.sciurorum, serve as a major reservoir and a vector, respectively, of zoonotic B. washoensis in Lithuania.