背景:跳蚤,被认为是巴尔通体的主要传播媒介,非常普遍,表现出极大的多样性。迄今为止,在中国东南部,没有针对巴尔通体病媒的调查。本研究的目的是调查中国东南部跳蚤中巴尔通体的流行病学和分子特征。
方法:2016年至2022年,收集了中国东南7个内陆和沿海城市863只啮齿动物的跳蚤样本(n=1119)。跳蚤种类,区域,性别,记录宿主物种和栖息地。通过实时PCR筛选来自每个个体跳蚤的DNA样品中的BartonellassrA基因。基于gltA基因的存在通过PCR确认所有阳性样品并测序。采用卡方检验和Fisher精确检验分析与巴尔通体感染相关的因素。方差分析和t检验用于比较巴尔通体DNA载量。
结果:在26.2%(293/1119)的跳蚤样本中检测到巴尔通体DNA,包括27.1%(284/1047)的Xenopsyllacheopis样本,13.2%(5/38)的单节酸根样本,8.3%(2/24)的Leptopsylnasegnis样本和20.0%(2/10)的其他跳蚤(Nosopsylusnicanus,Ctenocephalidesfelis,Bispiniformis和Fukienensis的新音节)。跳蚤种类之间的巴尔通体患病率存在显着差异,性别,主机,区域和栖息地。根据针对gltA基因的测序和系统发育分析,鉴定了五种巴尔通体跳蚤:B.tripocorum,B.昆士兰,B.伊丽莎白,Rochalimae和B.copersplainsensis。
结论:在中国东南部采集的7种跳蚤中,巴尔通体感染的患病率和多样性很高。本研究对人畜共患巴尔通体物种的检测,包括B.tribocorum,B.elizabethae和B.rochalimae,引发公众健康担忧。
BACKGROUND: Fleas, considered to be the main transmission vectors of Bartonella, are highly prevalent and show great diversity. To date, no investigations have focused on Bartonella vectors in Southeast China. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of Bartonella in fleas in Southeast China.
METHODS: From 2016 to 2022, flea samples (n = 1119) were collected from 863 rodent individuals in seven inland and coastal cities in Southeast China. Flea species, region, gender, host species and habitat were recorded. The DNA samples from each individual flea were screened by real-time PCR for the Bartonella ssrA gene. All positive samples were confirmed by PCR based on the presence of the gltA gene and sequenced. The factors associated with Bartonella infection were analyzed by the Chi-square test and Fisher\'s exact test. ANOVA and the t-test were used to compare Bartonella DNA load.
RESULTS: Bartonella DNA was detected in 26.2% (293/1119) of the flea samples, including in 27.1% (284/1047) of Xenopsylla cheopis samples, 13.2% (5/38) of Monopsyllus anisus samples, 8.3% (2/24) of Leptopsylla segnis samples and 20.0% (2/10) of other fleas (Nosopsyllus nicanus, Ctenocephalides felis, Stivalius klossi bispiniformis and Neopsylla dispar fukienensis). There was a significant difference in the prevalence of Bartonella among flea species, sex, hosts, regions and habitats. Five species of Bartonella fleas were identified based on sequencing and phylogenetic analyses targeting the gltA gene: B. tribocorum, B. queenslandensis, B. elizabethae, B. rochalimae and B. coopersplainsensis.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence and diversity of Bartonella infection in the seven species of fleas collected in Southeast China. The detection of zoonotic Bartonella species in this study, including B. tribocorum, B. elizabethae and B. rochalimae, raises public health concerns.