High prevalence and diversity of Bartonella in small mammals from the biodiverse Western Ghats.

ABSTRACT: Bartonella species are recognized globally as emerging zoonotic pathogens. Small mammals such as rodents and shrews are implicated as major natural reservoirs for these microbial agents. Nevertheless, in several tropical countries, like India, the diversity of Bartonella in small mammals remain unexplored and limited information exists on the natural transmission cycles (reservoirs and vectors) of these bacteria. Using a multi-locus sequencing approach, we investigated the prevalence, haplotype diversity, and phylogenetic affinities of Bartonella in small mammals and their associated mites in a mixed-use landscape in the biodiverse Western Ghats in southern India. We sampled 141 individual small mammals belonging to eight species. Bartonella was detected in five of the eight species, inclu

SUBMITTER: Ansil BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7951854 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature