OBJECTIVETo investigate Bartonella infections in small mammalian reservoir hosts from different environments and types of climate in Yunnan.

METHODSFemoral blood samples were collected from the anesthetic captured animals from five counties including three types of climate. All isolates were grown on brain and heart infusion agar plates containing 5% defibrinated rabbit blood. The agar plates were incubated at 35 degrees C in a humidified with 5% CO2 environment for at least 4 weeks. Bartonella-like isolates were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction and visualizing the target gene fragment by gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSBartonella species were isolated from 69 of 176 small animals including 4 species of 3 genera from 4 counties and the total prevalence in rodents was 39.2%. The maximal prevalence was 42.0% of Rattus tanezumi flavipectus usually inhabiting indoors and courtyard and contacting closely to human. Moreover, Bartonella isolates were obtained from Rattus noruegicus, Eothenomys miletus and Mus pahari. Life environments of captured animals involved indoors, courtyard, brush and forest in mountain.

CONCLUSIONThe finding in this study suggested the characteristic of diversity of Bartonella infections in rodent hosts in southern China included Bartonella species parasiting in a wide range of animal hosts in different environments as well as climate types. Further investigations were needed in different areas in China to confirm more mammalian reservoir hosts with Bartonella infections.