UNRAVELLING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Bartonella spp. AND ARTHROPOD-VECTORS BY "OMICS" APPROACHES

Abstract

The genus Bartonella (Rhizobiales; Bartonellaceae) encompasses facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that parasitize mainly erythrocytes and endothelial cells of mammals, and can cause zoonoses with clinical manifestations ranging in magnitude from moderate to severe, depending on the species of Bartonella involved and the immune status of the mammalian host. Cats, rodents and bats act as reservoirs for a great diversity of Bartonella species, many of which are zoonotic. Although they are mainly transmitted by hematophagous arthropod vectors (fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and lice), the relationship between this group of bacteria and arthropod vectors is little studied. Although fleas act as the main vectors of bartonellae among rodents, the species of siphonaptera involved in the transmission of such agents in rodents in Brazil are unknown. Similarly, despite the great diversity of Bartonella in bats in Brazil, the vectors are still unknown. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between Bartonella and arthropods (fleas, ticks, lice and mites) using "-OMICS" approaches, in order to verify the possible role of these invertebrates in the transmission of Bartonella spp. More specifically, the current project aims to: i.) investigate the microbiome of fleas C. felis, Polygenis spp. and Tunga penetrans collected in the field from dogs and cats, rodents and wild boars; iii.) investigate the microbiome of Amblyomma ticks and lice collected from rodents in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, hosts in which we recently described Bartonella Machadoae sp. nov. The present proposal will contribute to the understanding of the possible role of arthropods in the epidemiology of bartonellosis in Brazil.