Molecular detection of Bartonella in bats and their ectoparasites, Spinturnix myoti, from central and Western Yunnan Province, China.

Abstract

Bartonella, a facultative intracellular pathogen, is known for causing zoonotic diseases and has been detected in a variety of mammals and arthropods. Previous research has highlighted bats as natural reservoirs for Bartonella, with bat ectoparasites acting as vectors for transmission. Moreover, studies have indicated a positive correlation between the prevalence of ectoparasites and Bartonella infection levels. However, research on Bartonella carried by bats and their ectoparasites in China is limited. In this study, we captured bats at three sites in Yunnan Province, China, and collected their ectoparasites. Using conventional PCR, we screened for Bartonella by targeting three gene fragments: the RNA polymerase subunit gene (rpoB), citrate synthase (gltA), and cell division protein (ftsZ). Further phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses indicated the presence of identical Bartonella strains in bats and their ectoparasitic mites, suggesting the high risk of bat hosts and the potential of their ectoparasites as vectors for pathogen transmission. Despite this, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance and transmission of Bartonella within bat and ectoparasite populations, as well as the process of spillover to humans, remain poorly understood. This underscores the need for further in-depth experimental studies on mammals and their ectoparasites.