Bartonella spp. in bats, Kenya

Abstract

We report the presence and diversity of Bartonella spp. in bats of 13 insectivorous and frugivorous species collected from various locations across Kenya. Bartonella isolates were obtained from 23 Eidolon helvum, 22 Rousettus aegyptiacus, 4 Coleura afra, 7 Triaenops persicus, 1 Hipposideros commersoni, and 49 Miniopterus spp. bats. Sequence analysis of the citrate synthase gene from the obtained isolates showed a wide assortment of Bartonella strains. Phylogenetically, isolates clustered in specific host bat species. All isolates from R. aegyptiacus, C. afra, and T. persicus bats clustered in separate monophyletic groups. In contrast, E. helvum and Miniopterus spp. bats harbored strains that clustered in several groups. Further investigation is needed to determine whether these agents are responsible for human illnesses in the region.

Figure 1

Field sites where bats were collected in Kenya. Numbers identify collection sites (5).

Figure 2

Phylogenetic relations among the citrate synthase sequences of Bartonella spp. genotypes detected in bats from Kenya and previously described Bartonella spp. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. Each Bartonella spp. genogroup detected in bats was provided with the Latin name of the bat genus from which the Bartonella strains were obtained (boldface), the proposed name of genogroup (quotation marks), the GenBank accession number, and the number of genotypes assigned to the genogroup (parentheses).