Detection of Bartonella DNA in Yellow Flies, Lone Star Ticks, and a Human Patient with Concurrent Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Northeast Florida, USA.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
; 23(8): 401-410, 2023 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37428518
ABSTRACT
Background:
Bartonella species and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) are emerging zoonotic pathogens. The vectors and frequency of infections with both pathogen groups in the southern United States is understudied. This study describes an investigation of Bartonella and Bbsl in yellow flies collected at a residence in northeast Florida, USA, that led to subsequent discoveries of both organisms in lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and a human patient. Materials andMethods:
DNA samples from flies, ticks, and human patient blood specimens were tested via polymerase chain reaction assays for Bartonella or Bbsl species. DNA sequences were compared to reference strains for identification and characterization.Results:
An exploratory investigation of arthropod-borne pathogens in yellow flies collected at a residence in northeast Florida revealed the presence of uncharacterized Bartonella species DNA sequences similar to ones previously detected in two lone star ticks from Virginia. Subsequent testing of several lone star ticks from the area detected similar sequences of Bartonella in three ticks. Testing of stored blood samples from a resident of the site, who had experienced chronic relapsing and remitting symptoms for over a decade, identified nearly identical Bartonella DNA sequences in multiple samples collected over a 10-year period. Two lone star ticks and several samples from the same patient and time period also tested positive for Bo. burgdorferi DNA, suggesting possible long-term coinfection of the patient with both organisms.Conclusion:
This investigation identified highly similar Bartonella DNA sequences in yellow flies, lone star ticks, and a human patient in northeast Florida. Similarly, Bo. burgdorferi DNA was detected in two lone star ticks and multiple specimens from the patient. Positive PCR results from archived patient blood samples documented the presence of both organisms at multiple time points over more than a decade. More studies on human patients with chronic undefined illness and on the presence of Bartonella and Bbsl in hematophagous arthropods and animal hosts in the southeastern United States are needed.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ticks
/
Bartonella
/
Lyme Disease
/
Ixodes
/
Borrelia burgdorferi
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos
Publication country:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA