Detection of Potential Zoonotic Species in African Giant Rats () and Fleas from an Urban Area in Senegal.

Bartonellae are bacteria associated with mammals and their ectoparasites. Rodents often host different species of . The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of spp. in African giant pouched rats () and their ectoparasites in Dakar, Senegal. In 2012, 20 rats were caught, and their fleas were identified. DNA was extracted from 170 selected fleas and qPCR was carried out to detect spp. Subsequently, a culture was performed from the rat blood samples and the isolated strains (, , and ITS3) were genotyped. A total of 1117 fleas were collected from 19 rats and identified as , the tropical rat flea. DNA was detected in 148 of 170 selected fleas (87.1%). In addition, strains were isolated from the blood of 17 rats (85%). According to gene-sequence-based criteria for species definition, the isolated strains were identified as . (four strains) and two potential new species related to the zoonotic . . In this paper, these potentially new species are provisionally called Bartonella militaris (11 strains) and Bartonella affinis (two strains) until their description has been completed. and its fleas could constitute a public health risk in Dakar due to the high prevalence of infection reported.