Prevalence, diversity, and host associations of Bartonella strains in bats from Georgia (Caucasus).

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Lela Urushadze, Ying Bai, Lynn Osikowicz, Clifton McKee, Ketevan Sidamonidze, Davit Putkaradze, Paata Imnadze, Andrei Kandaurov, Ivan Kuzmin, Michael Kosoy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005428; https://doaj.org/article/cd99722fcc514dfa894c2e0fc5a407dc

Bartonella infections were investigated in seven species of bats from four regions of the Republic of Georgia. Of the 236 bats that were captured, 212 (90%) specimens were tested for Bartonella infection. Colonies identified as Bartonella were isolated from 105 (49.5%) of 212 bats Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence variation of the gltA gene differentiated 22 unique Bartonella genogroups. Genetic distances between these diverse genogroups were at the level of those observed between different Bartonella species described previously. Twenty-one reference strains from 19 representative genogroups were characterized using four additional genetic markers. Host specificity to bat genera or families was reported for several Bartonella genogroups. Some Bartonella genotypes found in bats clustered with those identified in dogs from Thailand and humans from Poland.