Intra- and Inter-Host Assessment of Bartonella Diversity with Focus on Non-Hematophagous Bats and Associated Ectoparasites from Brazil

Abstract

The relationship among bats, ectoparasites and associated microorganisms is important to investigate how humans can become exposed to zoonotic agents. Even though the diversity of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. in bats and ectoparasites has been previously reported, the occurrence of <i>gltA</i> genotypes within hosts has not been assessed so far. We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. in non-hematophagous bats and associated ectoparasites by assessing cloned <i>gltA Bartonella</i> genotypes in intra- and inter-hosts levels, as well as by using three additional molecular markers. Overall, 13.5% (18/133) bat blood samples, 17.18% bat flies (11/64) and 23.8% (5/21) Macronyssidae mite pools showed to be positive for <i>Bartonella</i> spp. Seventeen positive samples were submitted to <i>gltA-</i>cloning and three clones were sequenced for each sample. We also obtained 11, seven and three sequences for <i>nuoG</i>, <i>rpoB</i> and <i>ftsZ</i> genes, respectively. None were positive for the other target genes. We found at least two genotypes among the three <i>gltA</i>-cloned sequences from each sample, and 13 between all the 51 sequences. Among the <i>nuoG</i>, <i>rpoB</i> and <i>ftsZ</i> sequences we found eight, five and three genotypes, respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, the sequences were positioned mainly in groups related to <i>Bartonella</i> identified in rodents, bats and bat flies. Herein, we showed the genetic diversity of <i>Bartonella</i> in bat's blood and associated ectoparasites samples at both intra- and inter-host levels.