Prevalence, hematological findings and genetic diversity ofBartonellaspp. in domestic cats from Valdivia, Southern Chile

Abstract

SUMMARYThe present study determined the prevalence, hematological findings and genetic diversity ofBartonellaspp. in domestic cats from Valdivia, Southern Chile. A complete blood count andnuoGgene real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) forBartonellaspp. were performed in 370 blood samples from cats in Valdivia, Southern Chile.nuoGqPCR-positive samples were submitted to conventional PCR for thegltAgene and sequencing for species differentiation and phylogenetic analysis. Alignment ofgltAgene was used to calculate the nucleotide diversity, polymorphic level, number of variable sites and average number of nucleotide differences.BartonellaDNA prevalence in cats was 18·1% (67/370). Twenty-nine samples were sequenced with 62·0% (18/29) identified asBartonella henselae, 34·4% (10/29) asBartonella clarridgeiae, and 3·4% (1/29) asBartonella koehlerae. Bartonella-positive cats had low DNA bacterial loads and their hematological parameters varied minimally. EachBartonellaspecies from Chile clustered together and with otherBartonellaspp. described in cats worldwide.Bartonella henselaeandB. clarridgeiaeshowed a low number of variable sites, haplotypes and nucleotide diversity.Bartonella clarridgeiaeandB. koehleraeare reported for the first time in cats from Chile and South America, respectively.