title: Lack of transplacental transmission of Bartonella bovis.
abstract: Transplacental transmission of Bartonella spp. has been reported for rodents, but not for cats and has never been investigated in cattle. The objective of this study was to assess vertical transmission of Bartonella in cattle. Fifty-six cow-calf pairs were tested before (cows) and after (calves) caesarean section for Bartonella bacteremia and/or serology, and the cotyledons were checked for gross lesions and presence of the bacteria. None of the 29 (52%) bacteremic cows gave birth to bacteremic calves, and all calves were seronegative at birth. Neither placentitis nor vasculitis were observed in all collected cotyledons. Bartonella bovis was not detected in placental cotyledons. Therefore, transplacental transmission of B. bovis and multiplication of the bacteria in the placenta do not seem likely. The lack of transplacental transmission may be associated with the particular structure of the placenta in ruminants or to a poor affinity/agressiveness of B. bovis for this tissue.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; ENVA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction (BDR), 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, 23 Chemin des Capelles, BP 87614, 31076 Toulouse Cedex 03, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chastant-Maillard
authors.affiliation: Université ParisEst, INRA, Anses, ENVA, UMR BIPAR, 23 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Boulouis
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; ENVA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction (BDR), 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reynaud
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; ENVA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction (BDR), 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thoumire
authors.affiliation: Université ParisEst, INRA, Anses, ENVA, UMR BIPAR, 23 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gandoin
authors.affiliation: Université ParisEst, INRA, Anses, ENVA, UMR BIPAR, 23 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouillin
authors.affiliation: ENVA, Histology - Histopathology, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cordonnier
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, 23 Chemin des Capelles, BP 87614, 31076 Toulouse Cedex 03, France; Université ParisEst, INRA, Anses, ENVA, UMR BIPAR, 23 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: r.maillard@envt.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000235:genetics; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D021041:Placental Circulation; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Bacteraemia; Bartonella bovis; Cattle; Foetus; Placenta; Transmission