Bartonella Infection in Hematophagous, Insectivorous, and Phytophagous Bat Populations of Central Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula

• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0680
• Publication Date: 2017-06-13T07:00:35Z
• Authors: Matthew J. Stuckey; Bruno B. Chomel; Guillermo Galvez-...; José Ignacio Olav...; Cirani Obregón-Mo...; Hayde Moreno-Sand...; Nidia Aréchiga-Ce...; Mónica Salas-Rojas; Alvaro Aguilar-Se...
• Keywords: Bartonella; Insectivore; Disease reservoir; Triatominae

Although emerging nonviral pathogens remain relatively understudied in bat populations, there is an increasing focus on identifying bat-associated bartonellae around the world. Many novel Bartonella strains have been described from both bats and their arthropod ectoparasites, including mayotimonensis, a zoonotic agent of human endocarditis. This cross-sectional study was designed to describe isolated sampled Mexico evaluate factors potentially associated with infection. A total 238 belonging seven genera were captured five states Central Yucatan Peninsula. Animals screened by bacterial culture whole blood and/or polymerase chain reaction DNA extracted heart tissue or blood. spp. detected 54 (22.7%) bats, consisting 41 (38%) hematophagous, 10 (16.4%) insectivorous, three (4.3%) phytophagous individuals. also identified Balantiopteryx plicata as another possible reservoir Bartonella. Univariate multivariate logistic regression models suggested that infection positively blood-feeding diet ectoparasite burden. Phylogenetic analysis number genetic variants across phytophagous, insectivorous are unique bat-borne species. However, these closely related those previously species Latin America.