P0399 Poster Session I Emerging infectious diseases BARTONELLA PATHOGENS IN SMALL MAMMALS (RODENTIA AND INSECTIVORA) AND THEIR FLEAS (SIPHONAPTERA) AND TICKS (IXODIDAE) IN LITHUANIA I. Lipatova1, A. Paulauskas1, J. Radzijevskaja1, V. Gedminas2 1Biology, Vytautas Magnus university, Kaunas, Lithuania ; 2Mammalia, Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania

Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect and identify Bartonella pathogens in fleas and ticks collected from small mammals (rodentia and insectivora) in Lithuania.

Methods: In our study were captured 318 rodents (including Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus agrestis, Microtus arvalis, Microtus oeconomus and Micromys minutus) and 48 insectivores (Sorex minutus) between September 2011 and September 2012. One hundred eighty four fleas (including 4 genus: Hystrichopsylla, Ctenophthalmus, Palaeopsylla, Megabothris) and 111 ticks (Ixodes ricinus) were collected from small mammals. All samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Bartonella using BhCS.781p/BhCS.1137n primers. Differentiation of Bartonella species was doing by nested PCR of the ITS region and the gltA gene. A nested PCR of the ITS region was performed using WITS-F/WITS-R and Bh311-332F/Bh473- 452R primers. A nested PCR of the gltA gene was performed using gltA-F2/gltA-R2 and BhCS.781F/BhCS.1137R. PCR products were purified and subjected to sequence analysis. The obtained sequences were aligned with Bartonella pathogens gene sequences registered in GenBank database.

Results: Bartonella pathogens were isolated from 27% small mammals, 30% fleas and 25% pools of ticks. A nested PCR and sequencing analysis of PCR products identified Bartonella pathogens to three species which can cause disease in human. B. grahamii was detected in 41% small mammals, 38% fleas and 11% pools of ticks; B. taylorii was detected in 12% small mammals, 35% fleas and 18% pools of ticks and 4% fleas were positive for both pathogens. Also we have detected B. rochalimae in 2% flea.

Conclusion: In Lithuania only B. henselae was diagnosed for patient. Fleas have previously been involved in the transmission of B. henselae infection. Our study confirms that fleas and ticks are vector of Bartonella pathogens in small mammals. This is the first detection of B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. rochalimae in Lithuania. B. grahamii and B. rochalimae have previously been associated with human disease. Fleas and ticks may be involved in the transmission of rodent Bartonella pathogens some of which can be pathogenic to humans.