Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals.

Human lice, Pediculus humanus, can transmit various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii. Xenosurveillance is an epidemiological approach to assessing human infection risks performed by screening vectors of infectious disease agents. In the proof-of-principle study reported herein, the DNA of 23 human lice was collected from the clothes of 30 homeless Ethiopian individuals. These samples were assessed using 16S rRNA gene-specific pan-eubacterial PCR for screening, followed by Bartonella genus 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence-specific PCR, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR, and 16S rRNA gene PCR with specificity for relapsing-fever-associated Borrelia spp. with subsequent sequencing of the amplicons. In one sample, the pan-eubacterial 16S rRNA gene-specific screening PCR, the Bartonella genus 16S-23S ITS sequence-specific PCR, and the Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR allowed for the sequencing of B. quintana-specific amplicons. In two additional samples, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR also provided sequences showing 100% sequence identity with B. quintana. In total, 3/23 (13.0%) of the assessed lice were found to be positive for B. quintana. Correlating clinical data were not available; however, the assessment confirmed the presence of B. quintana in the local louse population and thus an associated infection pressure. Larger-sized cross-sectional studies seem advisable to more reliably quantify the infection risk of lice-infested local individuals. The need for prevention by providing opportunities to maintain standard hygiene for Ethiopian homeless individuals is stressed by the reported findings, especially in light of the ongoing migration of refugees.

Genome diversity of Borrelia garinii in marine transmission cycles does not match host associations but reflects the strains evolutionary history.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of spirochetal bacteria that occupy different ecological niches which is reflected in their reservoir host- and vector-associations. Borrelia genomes possess numerous linear and circular plasmids. Proteins encoded by plasmid genes play a major role in host- and vector-interaction and are important for Borrelia niche adaptation. However, the plasmid composition and therewith the gene repertoire may vary even in strains of a single species. Borrelia garinii, one of the six human pathogenic species, is common in Europe (vector Ixodes ricinus), Asia (vector Ixodes persulcatus) and in marine birds (vector Ixodes uriae). For the latter, only a single culture isolate (Far04) and its genome were previously available. The genome was rather small containing only one circular and six linear plasmids with a notable absence of cp32 plasmids. To further investigate B. garinii from marine transmission cycles and to explore i) whether the small number of plasmids found in isolate Far04 is a common feature in B. garinii from marine birds and presents an adaptation to this particular niche and ii) whether there may be a correlation between genome type and host species, we initiated in vitro cultures from live I. uriae collected in 2017 and 2018 from marine avian hosts and their nests. Hosts included common guillemots, Atlantic Puffin, razorbill, and kittiwake. We obtained 17 novel isolates of which 10 were sequenced using Illumina technology, one also with Pacific Bioscience technology. The 10 genomes segregated into five different genome types defined by plasmid types (based on PFam32 loci). We show that the genomes of seabird associated B. garinii contain fewer plasmids (6-9) than B. garinii from terrestrial avian species (generally ≥10), potentially suggesting niche adaptation. However, genome type did not match an association with the diverse avian seabird hosts investigated but matched the clonal complex they originated from, perhaps reflecting the isolates evolutionary history. Questions that should be addressed in future studies are (i) how is plasmid diversity related to host- and/or vector adaptation; (ii) do the different seabird species differ in reservoir host competence, and (iii) can the genome types found in seabirds use terrestrial birds as reservoir hosts.

Borrelia lanei sp. nov. extends the diversity of Borrelia species in California.

The diversity of Borrelia species discovered in California appears to be particularly high. A divergent group of Borrelia strains collected from Ixodes ticks in California was described by Postic and co-workers and designated 'genomospecies 2' (Postic D, Garnier M, Baranton G. Int J Med Microbiol 2007;297:263-271; Postic D, Ras NM, Lane RS, Hendson M, Baranton G. J Clin Microbiol 1998;36:3497-3504). We performed multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using eight housekeeping loci (clpA, clpX, nifS, pepX, pyrG, recG, rplB and uvrA) on 12 strains of this Borreliagenospecies to confirm that these strains form a distinct group within the Borreliaburgdorferi s. l. complex (Margos G, Hojgaard A, Lane RS, Cornet M, Fingerle V et al.Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2010;1:151-158). Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses based on sequences of the MLSA housekeeping genes corroborated the distinctness of this group; genetic distances to all other members of the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex were 96 % or lower. We propose the name Borrelia lanei sp. nov. for this genospecies in honor of Professor Robert S. Lane, University of California Berkeley, for his contributions to Borrelia and tick research. The type strain for Borrelia lanei sp. nov., strain CA28-91T, has been deposited to two culture collections (=DSM 17992T=CIP 109135T).

The Prevalence of Norovirus in returning international travelers with diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: There is a high incidence of diarrhea in traveling populations. Norovirus (NV) infection is a common cause of diarrhea and is associated with 7% of all diarrhea related deaths in the US. However, data on the overall prevalence of NV infection in traveling populations is limited. Furthermore, the prevalence of NV amongst travelers returning to Europe has not been reported. This study determined the prevalence of NV among international travelers returning to Germany from over 50 destinations in and outside Europe. METHODS: Stool samples of a total of 104 patients with a recent (< 14 days) history of international travel (55 male, mean age 37 yrs.) were tested for the presence of NV genogroup (GG) I and II infection using a sensitive and well established quantitative RT PCR method. 57 patients experienced diarrhea at the time of presentation at the Department of Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine. The remaining 47 patients had no experience of diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms for at least 14 days prior to their date of presentation at our institute. RESULTS: In our cohort, NV infection was detected in 15.7% of returning travelers with diarrhea. The closer to the date of return symptoms appeared, the higher the incidence of NV, ranging as high as 21.2% within the first four days after return. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, NV infection was shown to be frequent among returning travelers especially in those with diarrhea, with over 1/5 of diarrhea patients tested positive for NV within the first four days after their return to Germany. Due to this prevalence, routine testing for NV infection and hygienic precautions may be warranted in this group. This is especially applicable to patients at an increased risk of spreading the disease, such as healthcare workers, teachers or food-handlers.

Role of Human Bocavirus infections in outbreaks of gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: Human Bocavirus (HBoV) is considered to be responsible for lower respiratory tract infections in small children. Recent publications also reported the detection of HBoV in stool samples of gastroenteritis patients. Therefore HBoV might be associated with gastroenteritis cases. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and the causative role of HBoV in gastroenteritis outbreaks in day care facilities for children. STUDY DESIGN: We examined 307 stool samples using a real time PCR protocol for HBoV load. Samples were collected from 48 independent outbreaks of gastroenteritis in day care facilities. RESULTS: HBoV was detected in 14/307 stool samples (4.6%). HBoV load in the samples was low and the 14 HBoV positive samples were distributed among 13 different outbreaks. Coinfections with Norovirus in single samples were frequent (57.1%), but no gastroenteritis outbreak could be associated with HBoV infection or coinfection. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that HBoV is not a causative agent for gastroenteritis outbreaks.