LETTERS rural southwestern United States (10) References Address for correspondence: Pilar Foronda, and a strain of pathogenic B. elizabe- Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public 1. Kamani J, Morick D, Mumcuoglu Y, Health of the Canary Islands, University of thae, a bacteria that can cause human Harrus S. Prevalence and diversity of endocarditis, in the Huayllacallán Val- Bartonella species in commensal rodents La Laguna, Avda. Fco. Sanchez s/n, 38203, ley in Peru (3). and ectoparasites from Nigeria, west Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; email: Because most identified Barton- Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013;7:
[email protected] e2246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal. ella spp. have been reported as infec- pntd.0002246 tious agents for humans, our results 2. Gage KL, Kosoy MY. Natural his- should prompt public health concern. tory of plague: perspectives from However, our findings require further more than a century of research. Annu Rev Entomol. 2005;50:505–28. investigation about the pathogenic- http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev. ity of these Bartonella genotypes. ento.50.071803.130337 The detection of both pathogens in 3. Birtles RJ, Canales J, Ventosilla P, intradomestic and peridomestic areas Alvarez E, Guerra H, Llanos-Cuentas A, et al. Survey of Bartonella species Buruli Ulcer where humans are in close contact infecting intradomicillary animals in with rodents could indicate that the the Huayllacallán Valley, Ancash, Peru, Disease in Republic incidence of both diseases in humans a region endemic for human bartonel- of the Congo from Echarate District might be un- losis. Am J Trop Med Hyg.