Bartonella spp. Infection in Edible Dormice and Their Fleas

Bartonellosis is a group of emerging infectious diseases caused by facultatively intraerythrocytic bacteria transmitted between vertebrate hosts by arthropod vectors. Although only some Bartonella spp. are traditionally associated with human diseases, it was proposed that virtually any species can have zoonotic potential. The highest diversity of species was described from rodents acting as reservoirs with variable prevalence reaching up to 90%. Fleas associated with mammalian hosts play an important role in the Bartonella sp. lifecycle and are described to act not only as competent vectors but also as reservoirs for several species. The role of edible dormice (Glis glis), which often interacts with humans, and their fleas in the bartonellae transmission and lifecycle has so far been unknown; therefore, the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in edible dormice in the Czech Republic were studied. Complementary PCR analysis of four loci (gltA, rpoB, ftsZ, ITS), MALDI- TOF, and cultivation was performed to identify Bartonella sp. infections. The prevalence reaching 90% was found in dormice and their fleas. Altogether, four species were found and several genotypes of B. grahamii-like and yet undescribed Bartonella sp. were cultivated, and their morphology and growth requirements were..