[Study on the prevalence and genotypes of Bartonella species in rodent hosts from Fujian coastal regions].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate Bartonella infection in rodent hosts from different environments and types of climate in Fujian coastal regions. Genetypes of the Bartonella strains was also studied to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of the correlated diseases.


METHODS
By random sampling method, we selected six study sites in Fujian southeastern coastal regions. Rodents were captured by cages to Isolate Bartonella strains. Bartonella-like isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 379 bp fragment of gltA gene was sequenced and the growth and development tree was constructed to determine Bartonella species. Distribution of Bartonella species in the different area and related hosts was also analysed.


RESULTS
Bartonella species were isolated from 188 of 1161 small animals including five rodent species. The infected animals were grouped into 2 genera and 2 orders. They were Suncus murinus, Rattus norvegicus, Rattus flavipectus, Mus musculus and Rattus rattus. The overall prevalence of Bartonella bacteremia was 16.19% in the most prevalent species of rodents in Fujian southeastern coastal regions including 21.43% in Suncus murinus, 13.54% in Rattus norvegicus and 18.27% in Rattus flavipectus. Rodents in every investigated areas were infected by Bartonella species (9.25% in Ningde, 9.52% in Fuzhou, 9.38% in Putian, 28.18% in Quanzhou, 17.42% in Xiamen and 13.33% in Zhangzhou). There were significant differences among infected rates in different annual accumulated temperature districts (chi(2) = 12.93, P < 0.001). Isolates from rodents were clustered in three genotypes (B. elizabethae, B. qeenslandensis and B. tribocorum A, B).


CONCLUSIONS
The local rodents in Fujian southeastern coastal regions were widely infected by Bartonella spp. Differences among the prevalent species of Bartonella in Fujian southeastern coastal region, Yunan and Beijing were noticed. Our findings suggested there was a need to study the prevalence, related vectors and the molecular organism of Bartonella spp.
Ye
Xi
X
Xiamen Haicang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361026, China. yx6053366@163.com
Li
Guo-wei
GW
Yao
Mei-lin
ML
Luo
Wei
W
Su
Li-qiong
LQ
D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005838:Genotype; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*