Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development
The domestic cat is the primary reservoir host of three flea-borne <i>Bartonella</i> species, one of which (<i>Bartonella henselae</i>) causes reduced fertility and reproductive failure in experimentally infected cats. Vertical transmission of <i>Bartonella</i> ha...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Charlotte O. Moore Ricardo Maggi Kelli Ferris Edward B. Breitschwerdt |
| author_facet | Charlotte O. Moore Ricardo Maggi Kelli Ferris Edward B. Breitschwerdt |
| author_sort | Charlotte O. Moore |
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| description | The domestic cat is the primary reservoir host of three flea-borne <i>Bartonella</i> species, one of which (<i>Bartonella henselae</i>) causes reduced fertility and reproductive failure in experimentally infected cats. Vertical transmission of <i>Bartonella</i> has been documented only in B-cell deficient mice, but not immunocompetent animals. As many free-roaming cats are chronically infected with <i>Bartonella</i> and may be immunocompromised by environmental stress or coinfection, we attempted to isolate <i>Bartonella</i> from the fetal and placental tissues of pregnant queens spayed during trap–neuter–release. Four samples from each tissue (ovary, uterus, fetus, and placenta) were split for direct DNA extraction, liquid culture, and culture on a blood agar plate. Samples from infected queens were inoculated into liquid media and sampled weekly for three weeks for DNA extraction and plating. <i>Bartonella</i> DNA was sequenced directly from 28% (5/18) of the free-roaming queens. For these five queens, liquid enrichment culture was attempted in duplicate for fetal and placental samples. <i>Bartonella clarridgeiae</i> DNA was amplified using qPCR liquid enrichment cultures from the placentas of two cats. These findings suggest that viable <i>Bartonella</i> organisms are present in feline reproductive tissue. Additional studies are needed to assess the transplacental transmission of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. and <i>Bartonella</i>’s influence on fetal development. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c3216c8b64614892a2e1235f2a7e4a512025-08-20T03:36:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514204110.3390/ani15142041Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal DevelopmentCharlotte O. Moore0Ricardo Maggi1Kelli Ferris2Edward B. Breitschwerdt3Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAIntracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAIntracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAThe domestic cat is the primary reservoir host of three flea-borne <i>Bartonella</i> species, one of which (<i>Bartonella henselae</i>) causes reduced fertility and reproductive failure in experimentally infected cats. Vertical transmission of <i>Bartonella</i> has been documented only in B-cell deficient mice, but not immunocompetent animals. As many free-roaming cats are chronically infected with <i>Bartonella</i> and may be immunocompromised by environmental stress or coinfection, we attempted to isolate <i>Bartonella</i> from the fetal and placental tissues of pregnant queens spayed during trap–neuter–release. Four samples from each tissue (ovary, uterus, fetus, and placenta) were split for direct DNA extraction, liquid culture, and culture on a blood agar plate. Samples from infected queens were inoculated into liquid media and sampled weekly for three weeks for DNA extraction and plating. <i>Bartonella</i> DNA was sequenced directly from 28% (5/18) of the free-roaming queens. For these five queens, liquid enrichment culture was attempted in duplicate for fetal and placental samples. <i>Bartonella clarridgeiae</i> DNA was amplified using qPCR liquid enrichment cultures from the placentas of two cats. These findings suggest that viable <i>Bartonella</i> organisms are present in feline reproductive tissue. Additional studies are needed to assess the transplacental transmission of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. and <i>Bartonella</i>’s influence on fetal development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2041<i>Bartonella</i>catvertical transmissionplacenta |
| spellingShingle | Charlotte O. Moore Ricardo Maggi Kelli Ferris Edward B. Breitschwerdt Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development Animals <i>Bartonella</i> cat vertical transmission placenta |
| title | Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development |
| title_full | Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development |
| title_fullStr | Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development |
| title_short | Repeated Detection of <i>Bartonella</i> DNA in Feline Placenta: Potential Implications for Placental and Fetal Development |
| title_sort | repeated detection of i bartonella i dna in feline placenta potential implications for placental and fetal development |
| topic | <i>Bartonella</i> cat vertical transmission placenta |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2041 |
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