Bartonella Infections in Deer Keds (Lipoptena cervi) and Moose (Alces alces) in Norway |
| |
| Authors: | Samuel Duodu Knut Madslien Eva Hjelm Ylva Molin Anna Paziewska-Harris Philip D. Harris Duncan J. Colquhoun Bj?rnar Ytrehus |
| |
| Affiliation: | aNorwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway;bDepartment of Medical Sciences, Section for Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;cNational Centre for Biosystematics, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway |
| |
| Abstract: | Infections with Bartonella spp. have been recognized as emerging zoonotic diseases in humans. Large knowledge gaps exist, however, relating to reservoirs, vectors, and transmission of these bacteria. We describe identification by culture, PCR, and housekeeping gene sequencing of Bartonella spp. in fed, wingless deer keds (Lipoptena cervi), deer ked pupae, and blood samples collected from moose, Alces alces, sampled within the deer ked distribution range in Norway. Direct sequencing from moose blood sampled in a deer ked-free area also indicated Bartonella infection but at a much lower prevalence. The sequencing data suggested the presence of mixed infections involving two species of Bartonella within the deer ked range, while moose outside the range appeared to be infected with a single species. Bartonella were not detected or cultured from unfed winged deer keds. The results may indicate that long-term bacteremia in the moose represents a reservoir of infection and that L. cervi acts as a vector for the spread of infection of Bartonella spp. Further research is needed to evaluate the role of L. cervi in the transmission of Bartonella to animals and humans and the possible pathogenicity of these bacteria for humans and animals. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
