Bartonella spp. in bats from the Brazilian Amazon Forest

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Zoonotic Disease Research
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Bats host diverse microorganisms, including Bartonella species, which can be zoonotic.
• The Amazon biome, specifically the State of Acre, Brazil, has a high bat diversity but lacks studies on Bartonella occurrence.
• Understanding Bartonella in bats is crucial for assessing potential public health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and molecular diversity of Bartonella species in bats from Acre, Brazil.
• To provide the first molecular evidence of Bartonella in this specific region and bat species.
• To expand the known diversity of Bartonella genotypes associated with bats.

Main Methods:

• Spleen samples from 271 bats across 30 species were collected in Acre, Brazil.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect Bartonella spp. using the nuoG gene.
• Sequencing of the gltA gene was performed to identify Bartonella genotypes.

Main Results:

• Bartonella DNA was detected in 10.1% (21/208) of bats tested.
• Two distinct Bartonella genotypes were identified, showing similarity to previously found bat-associated genotypes.
• This research marks the first detection of Bartonella in bats from Acre and in four specific bat species.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the presence of Bartonella spp. in bats in the State of Acre, Brazil.
• New Bartonella genotypes associated with bats were identified, contributing to the understanding of bacterial diversity.
• The findings highlight the importance of further research on bat-borne pathogens in the Amazon.