title: Molecular epidemiology of Bartonella species isolated from ground squirrels and other rodents in northern California.
abstract: Bartonella spp. are endemic in wild rodents in many parts of the world. A study conducted in two northern California counties (Sonoma and Yolo) sampling California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) and four other rodent species (Peromyscus maniculatus, P. boylii, P. truei and Neotoma fuscipes) led to the isolation of small Gram-negative bacilli which were identified as Bartonella spp. based on colony morphology, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and partial gene sequencing. Overall, Bartonella spp. were isolated from the blood of 71% (32/45) of the ground squirrels and one third (22/66) of the other rodents. PCR-RFLP analysis of the gltA and 16S rRNA genes yielded seven unique profiles, four for the ground squirrels and three for the other rodents. Isolates from each PCR-RFLP profiles were submitted for partial sequencing. Ground squirrel isolates were most closely related to B. washoensis, whereas the other rodent isolates were closest to B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii and B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis. Two of these three species or subspecies are known zoonotic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Reproduction,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California,Davis, CA,USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ziedins
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Reproduction,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California,Davis, CA,USA.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Chomel
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Reproduction,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California,Davis, CA,USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kasten
authors.affiliation: California Department of Public Health,Vector-Borne Disease Section,Sacramento, CA,USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kjemtrup
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health,National Chung Hsing University,Taichung,Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001473:Bartonella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012377:Rodentia; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Bacterial infections; Bartonella; deer mouse; dusky-footed woodrat; ground squirrel