Identificação molecular de Bartonella spp. no tecido hepático de morcegos da Amazônia brasileira.

Abstract

Bartonellosis is a vector-borne global zoonosis caused by Bartonella, a genus of intracellular Gram-negative bacteria. It is a re-emerging and neglected infectious disease. It infects mammals and is transmitted by arthropod vectors, causing nonspecific clinical manifestations. Several Bartonella genotypes have been identified in several wild mammal species, and bats are a significant reservoir for numerous pathogens, including Bartonella spp. They are a group of mammals with a crucial role in the origin and spread of Bartonella bacteria across geographic regions and among other mammalian groups. In bats, several arthropod taxa are found that feed on blood, which can help in the dispersion of this bacterium. Recognizing the limitations associated with the detection of Bartonella species mainly by means of a single gene and employing only one detection method, conventional PCR was implemented and two gene regions (gltA and ITS) with high specificity and sensitivity were used, allowing a reliable analysis of Bartonella diversity. The present study investigated the occurrence and molecular identity in liver samples (n = 124) of bats of 32 different species from the Amazon region. Amplification of the ITS region revealed the presence of Bartonella spp. DNA in 6 bats 4.33% (6/124) the species were Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia brevicauda, Glossophaga soricina alopecia, Mesophylla macconnelli, Molossus molossus, Sturnira lilium and Uroderma bilobaton. Partial analysis of the gltA gene evaluated the genetic variants of Bartonella in 1 of the ITS-positive samples of the species Sturnira lilium. A prevalence rate of 5.64% (7/124) positive for Bartonella sp. was detected and showed homology with two species from Brazil and three from Guatemala. This multifaceted approach aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of Bartonella species among small mammals. Thus, a correlation was found between synanthropic behavior and the prevalence of Bartonella spp., suggesting that there is an increased risk of spillover from bats to humans in floodplain environments.