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Survey of Bartonella spp. in U.S. bed bugs detects Burkholderia multivorans but not Bartonella
Virna L Saenz1, Ricardo G Maggi, Edward B Breitschwerdt
1Department of Entomology and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
Abstract:
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) have resurged in the United States and globally. Bed bugs are hematophagous ectoparasites of humans and other animals, including domestic pets, chickens, and bats, and their blood feeding habits contribute to their potential as disease vectors. Several species of Bartonella are re-emergent bacterial pathogens that also affect humans, domestic pets, bats and a number of other wildlife species. Because reports of both bed bugs and Bartonella have been increasing in the U.S., and because their host ranges can overlap, we investigated whether the resurgences of these medically important pathogens and their potential vector might be linked, by screening for Bartonella spp. in bed bugs collected from geographic areas where these pathogens are prevalent and from bed bugs that have been in culture in the laboratory for several years. We screened a total of 331 bed bugs: 316 bed bugs from 36 unique collections in 29 geographic locations in 13 states, 10 bed bugs from two colonies maintained in the laboratory for 3 yr, and 5 bed bugs from a colony that has been in culture since before the recent resurgence of bed bugs. Bartonella spp. DNA was screened using a polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region. Bartonella DNA was not amplified from any bed bug, but five bed bugs from four different apartments of an elderly housing building in North Carolina contained DNA sequences that corresponded to Burkholderia multivorans, an important pathogen in nosocomial infections that was not previously linked to an arthropod vector.
Insights
Bed bugs do not carry Bartonella bacteria, despite their resurgence. However, bed bugs were found to carry Burkholderia multivorans, a pathogen linked to hospital infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) have seen a global resurgence, raising concerns about their role as potential disease vectors due to their blood-feeding habits.
- Bartonella species are re-emergent bacterial pathogens affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, with overlapping host ranges with bed bugs.
- The increasing prevalence of both bed bugs and Bartonella in the U.S. prompted an investigation into a potential link between the pathogen and its vector.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if bed bugs collected from areas with prevalent Bartonella infections harbor these bacteria.
- To screen bed bugs from laboratory cultures, including those maintained before the recent resurgence, for Bartonella spp.
- To investigate the potential role of bed bugs as vectors for Bartonella and other relevant pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 331 bed bugs from 36 collections across 29 geographic locations in 13 U.S. states.
- Analysis of bed bugs from laboratory colonies maintained for up to 3 years and one colony maintained prior to the recent resurgence.
- Utilizing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region for Bartonella spp. detection.
Main Results:
- Bartonella spp. DNA was not detected in any of the tested bed bug samples.
- DNA sequences corresponding to Burkholderia multivorans were identified in five bed bugs from four apartments in North Carolina.
- This finding represents the first reported association of Burkholderia multivorans with an arthropod vector.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence of Bartonella infection in bed bugs, refuting their role as vectors for this specific pathogen.
- The detection of Burkholderia multivorans in bed bugs suggests a novel, previously unrecognized association between this nosocomial pathogen and an arthropod vector.
- Further research is warranted to understand the implications of bed bugs harboring Burkholderia multivorans and its potential impact on public health.
