Helan Jn Vijayan Genitha, Grinberg A, Gedye K, Potter M A, Harrus S
a School of Veterinary Sciences , Massey University , Palmerston North , 4442 , New Zealand.
b Institute of Agriculture and Environment , Massey University , Palmerston North , 4442 , New Zealand.
N Z Vet J. 2018 Sep;66(5):257-260. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1483781. Epub 2018 Jun 25.
AIM To identify Bartonella spp. in rats from New Zealand using molecular methods. METHODS DNA was extracted from the spleens of 143 black rats (Rattus rattus) captured in the Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. PCR was performed using Bartonella genus-specific primers amplifying segments of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer and citrate synthase (gltA) and beta subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpoB) genes. PCR products were sequenced and compared online with sequences stored in the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information of the United States of America. RESULTS DNA sequences matching Bartonella coopersplainsensis and B. henselae were detected in samples from 22/143 (15.4%) and 3/143 (2.1%) rats, respectively. Co-occurrence of B. coopersplainsensis and B. henselae sequences was observed in the sample from one rat. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gram-negative fastidious bacteria belonging to the genus Bartonella are associated with a range of human diseases. Rodents play an important role as reservoirs of a broad range of Bartonella species. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a molecular detection of Bartonella spp. DNA in rodents from New Zealand, and the first identification of B. henselae DNA in rats, worldwide. Whereas the public health significance of B. coopersplainsensis remains undefined, B. henselae is the agent of cat scratch disease, and the presence of this bacterium in rats may have public health implications. Our results are preliminary and additional analyses of larger samples, preferably by bacterial culture, would provide more information on the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp., in particular B. henselae, in rats.
目的 采用分子方法鉴定来自新西兰大鼠体内的巴尔通体属细菌。方法 从新西兰汤加里罗国家公园捕获的143只黑家鼠（褐家鼠）脾脏中提取DNA。使用巴尔通体属特异性引物进行聚合酶链反应（PCR），扩增16S - 23S核糖体RNA内部转录间隔区片段以及柠檬酸合酶（gltA）基因和RNA聚合酶β亚基（rpoB）基因。对PCR产物进行测序，并与美国国立生物技术信息中心数据库中存储的序列进行在线比对。结果 在分别来自22/143只（15.4%）和3/143只（2.1%）大鼠的样本中检测到与库珀斯平原巴尔通体和亨氏巴尔通体匹配的DNA序列。在一只大鼠的样本中观察到库珀斯平原巴尔通体和亨氏巴尔通体序列同时存在。结论及临床意义 属于巴尔通体属的革兰氏阴性苛养菌与一系列人类疾病相关。啮齿动物作为多种巴尔通体物种的宿主发挥着重要作用。据我们所知，这是新西兰啮齿动物中巴尔通体属细菌DNA分子检测的首次报告，也是全球大鼠中亨氏巴尔通体DNA的首次鉴定。虽然库珀斯平原巴尔通体的公共卫生意义尚不明确，但亨氏巴尔通体是猫抓病的病原体，该细菌在大鼠体内的存在可能具有公共卫生意义。我们的结果是初步的，对更大样本进行额外分析，最好通过细菌培养，将提供更多关于大鼠中巴尔通体属细菌，特别是亨氏巴尔通体的流行率和多样性的信息。
