AUTHOR=Hidalgo-Hermoso Ezequiel , Sepúlveda-García Paulina , Cabello Javier , Celis Sebastian , Valencia Carola , Ortiz Carolina , Kemec Ignacio , Moreira-Arce Dario , Orsola Miguel , Canales Nivia , Garnham Antonio , Vera Frank , Muller Ananda 

TITLE=Molecular survey and phylogenetic analysis of Bartonella sp., Coxiella sp., and hemoplamas in pudu (Pudu puda) from Chile: first report of Bartonella henselae in a wild ungulate species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1161093

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1161093

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Recent evidence shows a high diversity of infectious agents in wildlife that represent a threat to human, domestic, and wild animal health. In Chile, wild populations of the most common cervid species, pudu (<italic>Pudu puda</italic>), have been reported as hosts for novel pathogens such as <italic>Mycoplasma ovis</italic>-like and a novel ecotype of <italic>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</italic>. A better understanding of the epidemiology of this group and other intracellular bacteria that might have cervids as hosts would enlighten their population relevance. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of <italic>Bartonella</italic> spp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and <italic>Coxiella burnetii</italic> in pudus from Chile.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>The DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 69 wild free-ranging and 30 captive pudus from Chile. A combination of real-time (nouG gene for <italic>Bartonella</italic> and IS1111 element for <italic>C. burnetii</italic>) and conventional PCR (16S rRNA for hemotropic <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. and rpoB, gltA, and ITS for <italic>Bartonella</italic> spp.) was used for pathogen screening and molecular characterization.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>DNA of <italic>Bartonella</italic> spp. was detected in 10.1% [95% CI (5.2–18.2%)] samples, hemotropic <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. in 1.7% [95% CI (0.08–10.1%)], and <italic>C. burnetii</italic> in 1.0% [95% CI (0.05–6.3%)] samples. Two sequenced samples were identified as <italic>Mycoplasma ovis</italic>-like, and one free-ranging pudu was positive for <italic>C. burnetii</italic>. While one captive and two free-ranging pudus were positive for <italic>Bartonella henselae</italic>, one wild pudu was co-positive for <italic>B. henselae</italic> and <italic>Bartonella</italic> sp., similar to <italic>Bartonellae</italic> identified in ruminants.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of <italic>B. henselae</italic> in wild ungulate species, and <italic>C. burnetii</italic> and <italic>Bartonella</italic> spp. in wild ungulate species in South America. Further research will be necessary to evaluate the potential role of pudu as reservoirs of infection and identify the sources for disease transmission among humans and wild and domestic animals.</p></sec>