Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Vet Microbiol. 2011 Dec 29;154(1-2):135-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.06.031. Epub 2011 Jul 2.
Bartonella rochalimae (B.r.) and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (B.v.b.) have been isolated from gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in mainland California and high Bartonella seroprevalence was reported in island foxes (U. litorralis), especially from Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. As a follow-up study, the objectives were to determine the prevalence of Bartonella bacteremia and seropositivity and to identify the Bartonella species infecting a convenience sample of 51 island foxes living on Santa Rosa Island. Using an immuno-fluorescence antibody test directed against B.v.b and Bartonella clarridgeiae (B.c.), used as a substitute for B.r., the overall antibody prevalence was 62.7% with 16 (31.4%) foxes seropositive for B.c. only, 5 (9.8%) for B.v.b. only, and 11 (21.6%) for both antigens. B.v.b. was isolated from 6 (11.8%) foxes using blood culture medium. An additional seropositive fox tested PCR positive for B.v.b. and 3 other seropositive foxes tested PCR positive for B. rochalimae. All of the isolated B.v.b. colonies and the B.v.b. PCR positive sample belonged to type III, the same type found to infect mainland gray foxes. Therefore, Bartonella infection is widespread within this island fox population with evidence for B.v.b. type III reservoir host-specificity. Presence of B. rochalimae in the Channel Islands has been detected for the first time using PCR.
贝氏考克斯体（Bartonella rochalimae，B.r.）和贝氏疏螺旋体亚种贝克霍夫氏亚种（Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii，B.v.b.）已从加利福尼亚大陆的灰狐（Urocyon cinereoargenteus）中分离出来，并且在岛屿狐（U. litorralis）中报告了高贝氏疏螺旋体血清阳性率，尤其是在圣克鲁斯岛和圣罗莎岛。作为后续研究，目的是确定感染方便采集的 51 只生活在圣罗莎岛上的岛屿狐的贝氏疏螺旋体菌血症和血清阳性率，并确定感染的贝氏疏螺旋体物种。使用针对 B.v.b.和巴通体克拉里吉亚种（Bartonella clarridgeiae，B.c.）的免疫荧光抗体试验，将 B.c.用作 B.r.的替代品，总体抗体阳性率为 62.7%，其中 16 只（31.4%）狐仅对 B.c.呈血清阳性，5 只（9.8%）仅对 B.v.b.呈血清阳性，11 只（21.6%）对两种抗原均呈血清阳性。通过血液培养介质从 6 只（11.8%）狐中分离出 B.v.b.。另外一只血清阳性的狐经 PCR 检测为 B.v.b.阳性，3 只其他血清阳性的狐经 PCR 检测为贝氏考克斯体阳性。所有分离的 B.v.b.菌落在和 B.v.b. PCR 阳性样本均属于 III 型，与感染大陆灰狐的类型相同。因此，贝氏疏螺旋体感染在该岛屿狐种群中广泛存在，并有证据表明 B.v.b.是 III 型的宿主特异性。首次使用 PCR 在海峡群岛上检测到存在贝氏考克斯体。
