Abstract
Background
Bartonella spp. infect a variety of vertebrates throughout the world with generally high prevalence. Several Bartonella spp. are known to cause diverse clinical manifestations in humans and have been recognized as emerging pathogens. These bacteria are mainly transmitted by blood sucking arthropods, such as fleas and lice. The role of ticks in the transmission of Bartonella sp. is unclear.
Methods
A recently developed quadruplex PCR amplicon next generation sequencing approach that targets Bartonella-specific fragments on gltA, ssrA, rpoB, and groEL was applied to test host-seeking Ixodes scapularis ticks (n = 1641; consisting of 886 nymphs and 755 adults) collected in 23 states of the eastern United States and Ixodes pacificus ticks (n = 966; all nymphs) collected in California in the western United States for the presence of Bartonella DNA. These species were selected because they are common human biters and serve as vectors of pathogens causing the greatest number of vector-borne diseases in the United States.
Results
No Bartonella DNA was detected in any of the ticks tested by any target.
Conclusions
Owing to the lack of Bartonella detection in a large number of host-seeking Ixodes sp. ticks tested across a broad geographic region, our results strongly suggest that I. scapularis and I. pacificus are unlikely to contribute more than minimally, if at all, to transmission of Bartonella spp..