Molecular detection and characterization of Bartonella spp. in Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites parasites of bats

Among the ectoparasites found in bats, stand out Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites. The Streblidae family comprises a monophyletic group of Hippoboscoidea hematophagous dipterans that parasitize bats. While mites of the Spinturnicidae family are ectoparasites unique to chiropterans, those of the Macronyssidae family also parasitize other species of mammals. Although the occurrence of Bartonella spp. has been reported in bats sampled in Europe, Africa, Asia and Central and South America, there are few studies on the occurrence and genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. in Hippoboscoidea flies and mites parasites of bats. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and perform phylogenetic inferences of Bartonella spp. in Streblidae flies and Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae mites parasites of bats in Brazil. Between May 2011 to April 2012 and September 2013 to December 2014, 404 Streblidae flies, 100 Macronyssidae and 100 Spinturnicidae mites were collected from two locations in the district of Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. All 20 mite pools and 202 (50%) Streblidae flies showed to be positive in PCR assays targeting cox-1 gene. Forty (19.8%) of 202 Streblidae flies were positive for Bartonella spp. in qPCR assays based on the nuoG gene: Paratrichobius longicrus, 7/24 (29%) Strebla guajiro, 2/5 (40%) Aspidoptera phyllostomatis, 5/43 (11%) Aspidoptera falcata, 1/10 (10%) Trichobius anducei, 1/4 (25%) Megistopoda aranea and 18/55 (32%) Trichobius joblingi, collected from the following species: Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus planirostris, Sturnira lilium, Artibeus obscurus. Six Bartonella sequences were obtained (nuoG [n=2], gltA [n=2], rpoB [n=1], ribC [n=1]). None of the sampled Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites were positive for Bartonella spp. Phylogenetic analyzes of the sequences, supported by low BLAST identity, suggest the circulation of more than one Bartonella genotype/species in family Streblidae flies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which were shown to be phylogenetically close to those previously detected in bats and rodents in America, and in ruminants in Europe. This fact evidences a possible interchange of Bartonella species among vertebrate hosts belonging to the orders Chiroptera, Rodentia and Artiodactyla. (AU)