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Zoonotic Bartonella species in Eurasian wolves and other free‐ranging wild mammals from Italy

2021; Wiley; Volume: 68; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/zph.12827

1863-2378

Grazia Greco, Aya Attia Koraney Zarea, Giovanni Sgroi, Maria Tempesta, Nicola D’Alessio, Gianvito Lanave, Marcos Antônio Bezerra‐Santos, Roberta Iatta, Vincenzo Veneziano, Domenico Otranto, Bruno B. Chomel,

Vector-borne infectious diseases

Abstract Bartonellae are emerging vector‐borne pathogens infecting humans, domestic mammals and wildlife. Ninety‐seven red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), 8 European badgers ( Meles meles ), 6 Eurasian wolves ( Canis lupus ), 6 European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus ), 3 beech martens ( Martes foina ) and 2 roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) from Italian Nature Conservatory Parks were investigated for Bartonella infection. Several Bartonella species (9.84%; 95% CI: 4.55–15.12), including zoonotic ones, were molecularly detected among wolves (83.3%; 95% CI: 51–100.00), foxes (4.12%; 95% CI: 0.17–8.08), hedgehogs (33.33%; 95% CI: 0.00–71.05) and a roe deer. Bartonella rochalimae was the most common Bartonella species (i.e. in 4 foxes and 2 wolves) detected. Candidatus B. merieuxii and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii were identified for the first time in wolves. Furthermore, Bartonella schoenbuchensis was identified in a roe deer and a new clone with phylogenetic proximity to B. clarridgeiae was detected in European hedgehogs. Zoonotic and other Bartonella species were significantly more frequent in Eurasian wolves ( p < .0001), than in other free‐ranging wild mammals, representing a potential reservoir for infection in humans and domestic animals.