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Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species

Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas... Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species ▿ Patrick Abbot 1 , * , Alena E. Aviles 2 , Lauren Eller 1 and Lance A. Durden 2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235 2 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8042, Statesboro, Georgia 30460 ABSTRACT Coinfections within hosts present opportunities for horizontal gene transfer between strains and competitive interactions between genotypes and thus can be a critical element of the lifestyles of pathogens. Bartonella spp. are Alphaproteobacteria that parasitize mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Their vectors are thought to be various biting arthropods, such as fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, and they are commonly cited as agents of various emerging diseases. Coinfections by different Bartonella strains and species can be common in mammals, but little is known about specificity and coinfections in arthropod vectors. We surveyed the rate of mixed infections of Bartonella in flea vectors ( Polygenis gwyni ) parasitizing cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) in which previous surveys indicated high rates of infection. We found that nearly all fleas (20 of 21) harbored one or more strains of Bartonella , with rates of coinfection approaching 90%. A strain previously identified as common in cotton rats was also common in their fleas. However, another common strain in cotton rats was absent from P. gwyni , while a rare cotton rat strain was quite common in P. gwyni . Surprisingly, some samples were also coinfected with a strain phylogenetically related to Bartonella clarridgeiae , which is typically associated with felids and ruminants. Finally, a locus ( pap31 ) that is characteristically borne on phage in Bartonella was successfully sequenced from most samples. However, sequence diversity in pap31 was novel in the P. gwyni samples, relative to other Bartonella previously typed with pap31 , emphasizing the likelihood of large reservoirs of cryptic diversity in natural populations of the pathogen. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Applied and Environmental Microbiology American Society For Microbiology

Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species

Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species

Applied and Environmental Microbiology , Volume 73 (19): 6045 – Oct 1, 2007

Abstract

Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species ▿ Patrick Abbot 1 , * , Alena E. Aviles 2 , Lauren Eller 1 and Lance A. Durden 2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235 2 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8042, Statesboro, Georgia 30460 ABSTRACT Coinfections within hosts present opportunities for horizontal gene transfer between strains and competitive interactions between genotypes and thus can be a critical element of the lifestyles of pathogens. Bartonella spp. are Alphaproteobacteria that parasitize mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Their vectors are thought to be various biting arthropods, such as fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, and they are commonly cited as agents of various emerging diseases. Coinfections by different Bartonella strains and species can be common in mammals, but little is known about specificity and coinfections in arthropod vectors. We surveyed the rate of mixed infections of Bartonella in flea vectors ( Polygenis gwyni ) parasitizing cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) in which previous surveys indicated high rates of infection. We found that nearly all fleas (20 of 21) harbored one or more strains of Bartonella , with rates of coinfection approaching 90%. A strain previously identified as common in cotton rats was also common in their fleas. However, another common strain in cotton rats was absent from P. gwyni , while a rare cotton rat strain was quite common in P. gwyni . Surprisingly, some samples were also coinfected with a strain phylogenetically related to Bartonella clarridgeiae , which is typically associated with felids and ruminants. Finally, a locus ( pap31 ) that is characteristically borne on phage in Bartonella was successfully sequenced from most samples. However, sequence diversity in pap31 was novel in the P. gwyni samples, relative to other Bartonella previously typed with pap31 , emphasizing the likelihood of large reservoirs of cryptic diversity in natural populations of the pathogen.

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References (58)

Publisher
American Society For Microbiology
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by the American society for Microbiology.
ISSN
0099-2240
eISSN
1098-5336
DOI
10.1128/AEM.00228-07
pmid
17693558
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Mixed Infections, Cryptic Diversity, and Vector-Borne Pathogens: Evidence from Polygenis Fleas and Bartonella Species ▿ Patrick Abbot 1 , * , Alena E. Aviles 2 , Lauren Eller 1 and Lance A. Durden 2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235 2 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8042, Statesboro, Georgia 30460 ABSTRACT Coinfections within hosts present opportunities for horizontal gene transfer between strains and competitive interactions between genotypes and thus can be a critical element of the lifestyles of pathogens. Bartonella spp. are Alphaproteobacteria that parasitize mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Their vectors are thought to be various biting arthropods, such as fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, and they are commonly cited as agents of various emerging diseases. Coinfections by different Bartonella strains and species can be common in mammals, but little is known about specificity and coinfections in arthropod vectors. We surveyed the rate of mixed infections of Bartonella in flea vectors ( Polygenis gwyni ) parasitizing cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) in which previous surveys indicated high rates of infection. We found that nearly all fleas (20 of 21) harbored one or more strains of Bartonella , with rates of coinfection approaching 90%. A strain previously identified as common in cotton rats was also common in their fleas. However, another common strain in cotton rats was absent from P. gwyni , while a rare cotton rat strain was quite common in P. gwyni . Surprisingly, some samples were also coinfected with a strain phylogenetically related to Bartonella clarridgeiae , which is typically associated with felids and ruminants. Finally, a locus ( pap31 ) that is characteristically borne on phage in Bartonella was successfully sequenced from most samples. However, sequence diversity in pap31 was novel in the P. gwyni samples, relative to other Bartonella previously typed with pap31 , emphasizing the likelihood of large reservoirs of cryptic diversity in natural populations of the pathogen.

Journal

Applied and Environmental MicrobiologyAmerican Society For Microbiology

Published: Oct 1, 2007

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