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Prevalence and Genetic Heterogeneity of Bartonella Strains Cultured from Rodents from 17 Provinces in Thailand

To study the distribution and diversity of Bartonella in rodents from Thailand, 330 rodents belonging to 13 species were tested. The majority (80.6%) of rodents examined belonged to the genus Rattus. Bartonellae were cultured from 41.5% of the rodents with a wide range of prevalence by host species and regions. Sequencing of gltA revealed diverse Bartonella strains. Bartonellae from Rattus spp. belonged to 23 variants and clustered with Bartonella coopersplainensis, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella phoceensis, Bartonella rattimassiliensis, Bartonella tribocorum, and an unknown geno-group. Bartonellae from Bandicota spp. belonged to six variants and clustered with B. coopersplainensis, B. rattimassilliensis, and B. tribocorum. Three variants from Mus spp. clustered with B. coopersplainensis or B. rattimassilliensis. The only isolate from a Berylmys berdmorei fell into the B. tribocorum group. The observations highlight the need to study these agents for their role in human febrile illnesses of unknown etiology in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia.

Received May 28, 2009. Accepted for publication July 24, 2009.

Acknowledgments: We wish to express our gratitude to Taweesak Monkanna, Surachai Leepitakrat, Sucheera Insuan, and Weerayut Charoensongserkit from the Department of Entomology, AFRIMS, Bangkok, Thailand, for assistance in trapping and handling rodents.

Disclaimer: Reference to trade names, vendors, proprietary products, or specific equipment is not an endorsement, a guarantee, or a warranty by the Department of the Defense or the U.S. Armed Forces, and does not imply an approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that also may be suitable. The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Army.

^* Address correspondence to Ying Bai, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, CO 80522. E-mail: bby5{at}cdc.gov

Authors’ addresses: Ying Bai and Michael Y. Kosoy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, CO 80522, Tel: 1-970-266-3555 and 1-970-266-3522, Fax: 1-970-225-4257, E-mail: bby5{at}cdc.gov. Kriangkrai Lerdthusnee and Jason H. Richardson, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-644-4888 and 66-2-644-5777, Fax: 66-2-354-7885. Leonard F. Peruski, International Emerging Infections Program, Thai MOPH-US CDC Collaboration, Bangkok 11000, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-591-4039, Fax: 66-2-591-5753.