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Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
08:23

Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research

Published on: August 31, 2013

Bartonella spp. transmission by ticks not established

Sam R Telford1, Gary P Wormser

  • 1Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachussetts, USA.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Current evidence does not support tick transmission of Bartonella species, including Bartonella henselae, to humans or animals. Despite detection in ticks, tick-borne Bartonella transmission remains unproven.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Bartonella species are known to infect humans and various animal hosts.
  • The presence of Bartonella DNA in ticks, particularly Ixodes scapularis, has led to the hypothesis of tick-borne transmission.
  • Bartonella henselae is frequently implicated in potential transmission by Ixodes scapularis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evidence supporting tick transmission of Bartonella species.
  • To determine the epidemiological significance of Bartonella detection in ticks.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive review of existing scientific literature on Bartonella and tick interactions.
  • Analysis of studies reporting Bartonella DNA in ticks and evidence of transmission.

Main Results:

  • Detection of Bartonella DNA in ticks does not confirm transmission during blood feeding.
  • No established cases of Bartonella species transmission by ticks to animals or humans were found.
  • Specifically, no well-documented instances of Bartonella henselae transmission by Ixodes scapularis were identified.

Conclusions:

  • The transmission of Bartonella species by ticks is not scientifically established.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the role of ticks, if any, in Bartonella epidemiology.

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