Bartonella quintana in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Primate Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

• Bartonella quintana is a bacterium known to cause trench fever in humans.
• Nonhuman primates can serve as reservoirs or models for zoonotic diseases.
• Understanding Bartonella infections in primates is crucial for public health and animal welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the identification and characterization of a Bartonella quintana strain in a nonhuman primate.
• To document a case of naturally acquired Bartonella quintana infection in a captive-bred cynomolgus monkey.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction from lysed erythrocytes and cultured colonies.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for bacterial identification.
• Gene cloning and sequencing for strain characterization.

Main Results:

• A Bartonella quintana strain was successfully identified and sequenced from the cynomolgus monkey's blood.
• The bacterium was detected in both directly sampled blood and cultured colonies.
• This represents a novel finding of natural B. quintana infection in this primate model.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the susceptibility of cynomolgus monkeys to Bartonella quintana infection.
• The findings highlight the importance of monitoring nonhuman primates for potential zoonotic pathogens.
• Further research is warranted to understand the transmission dynamics and clinical significance of B. quintana in primates.