Bartonella infection in rodents and their flea ectoparasites: an overview

Abstract

Epidemiological studies worldwide have reported a high prevalence and a great diversity of Bartonella species, both in rodents and their flea parasites. The interaction among Bartonella, wild rodents, and fleas reflects a high degree of adaptation among these organisms. Vertical and horizontal efficient Bartonella transmission pathways within flea communities and from fleas to rodents have been documented in competence studies, suggesting that fleas are key players in the transmission of Bartonella to rodents. Exploration of the ecological traits of rodents and their fleas may shed light on the mechanisms used by bartonellae to become established in these organisms. The present review explores the interrelations within the Bartonella-rodent-flea system. The role of the latter two components is emphasized.

Keywords: Bartonella; Fleas; Rodents.

FIG. 1.

Range of Bartonella-infection rates in rodents reported worldwide (data from PubMed, January, 2014). References according to continents and countries: Africa, Algeria, Bitam et al. ; Egypt, Inoue et al. ; Ethiopia, Meheretu et al. ; DR Congo and Tanzania, Gundi et al. ; Nigeria, Kamani et al. ; South Africa, Pretorius et al. , Brettschneider et al. , Trataris et al. ; Tunisia, Fichet-Calvet et al. ; Asia, Bangladesh, Bai et al. ; Cambodia, Lao PRD, and Thailand, Jiyipong et al. ; China, Ying et al. , Ye et al. , Inoue et al. , Liu et al. ; Indonesia, Winoto et al. ; Israel, Harrus et al. , Morick et al. ; Japan, Inoue et al. , Kabeya et al. ; Lao PDR, Angelakis et al. ; Nepal, Gundi et al. ; Taiwan, Lin et al. , Hsieh et al. , Tsai et al. , Chae et al. ; Russia (Far east), Mediannikov et al. ; South Korea, Kim et al. ; Thailand, Castle et al. , Bai et al. , Saisongkorh et al. , Inoue et al. ; Turkey (Kaman, Kirsehir), Karagöz et al. ; America, Brazil, Costa et al. ; Canada, Jardine et al. , Jardine et al. ; Peru, Birtles et al. ; United States, Kosoy et al. , Ellis et al. , Bown et al. , Kosoy et al. , , Bai, et al. , , Morway et al. , Matsumoto et al. , Bai et al. , Gundi, et al. ; Europe, Denmark, Engbaek and Lawson ; England, Birtles et al. , Bown et al. , Telfer et al. , France, Gundi et al. , Buffet et al. , ; Greece, Tea et al. ; Ireland, Harrison et al. ; Netherlands, Holmberg et al. ; Poland, Welc-Faleciak et al. , , Paziewska et al. , Hildebrand et al. ; Portugal, Ellis et al. ; Slovenia, Knap et al. ; Spain, Marquez et al. , Gil et al. ; Oceania, Australia, Gundi et al. . Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/vbz

FIG. 2.

Experimentally demonstrated pathways and potential transmission routes of bartonellae in wild rodents and their fleas. (Green lines) Experimentally demonstrated pathways; (red lines) investigated routes that failed to be demonstrated; (dashed blue lines) proposed transmission pathways. Boxes include the corresponding reference studies. Yellow-lined boxes indicate indirect evidence for the suggested pathways. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/vbz