Detection of Neorickettsia sp. in Oligoryzomys flavescens rodent from a protected urban area in Buenos Aires City (Argentina).

Rodents play an important role in vector-borne pathogens cycle. To detect Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia and Borrelia species in rodents from a protected urban area in Buenos Aires City (Argentina) were analyzed 203 organ pools of Mus musculus, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Rattus norvegicus, Deltamys kempi and Scapteromys aquaticus by PCR. Only one O. flavescens (1.2%) was positive by PCR for 16S rRNA fragment for the Anaplasmataceae family and the sequence had 99.7% identity with Neorickettsia risticii. Plus, the sequence obtained for a fragment of the p51 gene for the genus Neorickettsia from positive sample had 95.3-96.1% identity with N. risticii found previously in bats Tadarida brasiliensis from Buenos Aires City. Our study presents the first finding of Neorickettsia in rodents from natural environment, but further studies are necessary about these vector-borne bacteria and the rol of rodents in its epidemiology.

Molecular detection of Bartonella in fleas (Hexapoda, Siphonaptera) collected from wild rodents (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from Argentina.

Bartonella are facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, transmitted mainly by hematophagous arthropods, and the rodents act as a natural reservoir. Different species of Bartonella associated with rodents have been implicated as causing human disease. Studies from Argentina are scarce and no Bartonella from fleas have been reported previously. The present study investigated the presence of Bartonella spp. in fleas associated with sigmodontine rodents in four localities of the Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. In total, 51 fleas (four species) were analysed of which 41.2% were found to be positive for the gltA gene fragment via a nested polymerase chain reaction. All positive fleas were of the species Neotyphloceras crackensis from three different localities. Eight of the 21 amplified samples were sequenced, and the presence of three different genotypes was detected with an identity of 95.5-98.8% amongst themselves. Bartonella genotypes from American rodents and rodent fleas were recovered in a monophyletic group. Similarly, most of the Peruvian and all Argentinean variants constitute a natural group sister of the American remainder. The importance of the Bartonella spp. with respect to public health is unknown, although future studies could provide evidence of the possible involvement of N. crackensis in the Bartonella transmission cycles.

Isolation of Rickettsia massiliae from Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks, Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Rickettsia massiliae , a member of the spotted fever group of Rickettsia, was first isolated from a Rhipicephalus turanicus tick in France. In the New World, it has been detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks from different geographical locations in Argentina and the United States, but it has only been isolated in Arizona. The aim of this study was the isolation and genetic characterization of R. massiliae from R. sanguineus ticks collected from dogs in Buenos Aires city, Argentina. In total, 49 R. sanguineus ticks were collected from 10 dogs and grouped into 10 pools of 4-5 specimens. With a PCR assay, which detects a fragment of the Rickettsia genus-specific 23S-5S intergenic space, 1 pool of 5 ticks was found positive. Generated sequences exhibited 100% identity with R. massiliae . A new isolate, named CABA, was obtained from this pool by inoculating it into monolayers of Vero cells. Genotypic characteristics were determined, and results showed that fragments of the 23S-5S intergenic space, ompA, ompB, gltA, htrA, and sca1 genes had great similarity with R. massiliae strain Bar29 (Spain). Although few human cases have been confirmed for this pathogen, its circulation in urban areas is of great importance to public health. This isolation improves knowledge of the circulating pathogen and could improve future diagnostic processes as it allows the production of more specific antigens for serological testing.