Detection of Potential Zoonotic Bartonella Species in African Giant Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and Fleas from an Urban Area in Senegal.

ABSTRACT: Bartonellae are bacteria associated with mammals and their ectoparasites. Rodents often host different species of Bartonella. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella spp. in African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and their ectoparasites in Dakar, Senegal. In 2012, 20 rats were caught, and their fleas were identified. DNA was extracted from 170 selected fleas and qPCR was carried out to detect Bartonella spp. Subsequently, a Bartonella culture was performed from the rat blood samples and the isolated strains (16S rRNA, rpoB, ftsZ and ITS3) were genotyped. A total of 1117 fleas were collected from 19 rats and identified as Xenopsylla cheopis, the tropical rat flea. Bartonella DNA was

SUBMITTER: Demoncheaux JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8953472 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature