Genetic diversity of Bartonella genotypes found in the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) in Central Europe.
We investigated the diversity of Bartonella in Apodemus agrarius, an important rodent of peri-domestic habitats, which has spread into Europe in the past 1000 years. Spleen samples of 344 A. agrarius from Eastern Slovakia were screened for the presence of Bartonella spp. using 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region and bacteria were detected in 9% of rodents. Based on sequencing of three housekeeping genes (gltA, rpoB and groEL) Bartonella genotypes were ascribed to the species typical for mice and voles: B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. birtlesii. However, the study also confirmed presence of genotypes belonging to the B. clarridgeiae/B. rochalimae clade, and the B. elizabethae/B. tribocorum clade, which are not commonly found in woodland rodents. In addition, a potential recombination event between these two genotypes was noted, which highlights an important role of A. agrarius in shaping Bartonella diversity and evolution.
Department of Vector-Borne Diseases,Institute of Parasitology SAS,Hlinkova 3,040 01 Košice,Slovakia.
Jasna
J
Kraljik
Parasitology Unit,Royal Tropical Institute, KIT Biomedical Research,Meibergdreef 39,1105 AZ Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
Anna
A
Paziewska-Harris
Department of Vector-Borne Diseases,Institute of Parasitology SAS,Hlinkova 3,040 01 Košice,Slovakia.
Dana
D
Miklisová
Department of Vector-Borne Diseases,Institute of Parasitology SAS,Hlinkova 3,040 01 Košice,Slovakia.
Lucia
L
Blaňarová
Department of Vector-Borne Diseases,Institute of Parasitology SAS,Hlinkova 3,040 01 Košice,Slovakia.
Ladislav
L
Mošanský
Department of Anatomy,Faculty of Medicine,Pavol Jozef Šafárik University,Šrobárova 2,041 80 Košice,Slovakia.
Martin
M
Bona
Department of Vector-Borne Diseases,Institute of Parasitology SAS,Hlinkova 3,040 01 Košice,Slovakia.
Michal
M
Stanko
D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D051189:Murinae / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018154:Slovakia
D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Apodemus agrarius; Bartonella; Slovakia; diversity; striped field mouse