Bartonella species and their ectoparasites: selective host adaptation or strain selection between the vector and the mammalian host?

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Jul;34(4):299-314. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2011.04.005. Epub 2011 May 25.

Abstract

A wide range of blood-sucking arthropods have either been confirmed or are suspected as important vectors in Bartonella transmission to mammals, including humans. Overall, it appears that the diversity of Bartonella species DNA identified in ectoparasites is much broader than the species detected in their mammalian hosts, suggesting a mechanism of adaptation of Bartonella species to their host-vector ecosystem. However, these mechanisms leading to the fitness between the vectors and their hosts still need to be investigated.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Vectors / microbiology*
  • Bartonella Infections* / microbiology
  • Bartonella Infections* / transmission
  • Bartonella Infections* / veterinary
  • Bartonella* / classification
  • Bartonella* / genetics
  • Cat Diseases / microbiology*
  • Cat Diseases / parasitology
  • Cat Diseases / transmission
  • Cats
  • Cricetinae
  • Disease Reservoirs / microbiology*
  • Disease Reservoirs / parasitology
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
  • Ecosystem
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Mammals / microbiology*
  • Mammals / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Mites / microbiology
  • Molecular Typing
  • Phthiraptera / microbiology
  • Phylogeography
  • Psychodidae / microbiology
  • Rats
  • Rodent Diseases / microbiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology
  • Rodent Diseases / transmission
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Siphonaptera / microbiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Taiwan
  • Ticks / microbiology