Dietrich, MurielTjale, Mabotse A.Weyer, JacquelineKearney, TeresaSeamark, E.C.J. (Ernest)Nel, Louis HendrikMonadjem, AraMarkotter, Wanda2017-05-192017-05-192016-03-21Dietrich M, Tjale MA, Weyer J, Kearney T, Seamark ECJ, Nel LH, et al. (2016) Diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in Bats and Their Blood-Feeding Ectoparasites from South Africa and Swaziland. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0152077. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152077.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0152077http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60560S1 Table. Details of the blood samples analyzed for Bartonella and Rickettsia in South Africa and Swaziland. Not all individuals sampled were taken as museum vouchers, and some vouchers have not yet been lodged in a public repository; in such instances identification based on morphology was limited to external features only, and hence identification to species level was not always possible. Acronyms used in Sample ID and Field/Museum number: UP—Virological Research Group, University of Pretoria; ECJS—Ernest Seamark, AfricanBats; NC— Northern Cape, Davis Jacobs, University of Cape Town; TM- Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria (formerly Transvaal Museum); CHIR KNP: Skukuza Biological Reference Collection.In addition to several emerging viruses, bats have been reported to host multiple bacteria but their zoonotic threats remain poorly understood, especially in Africa where the diversity of bats is important. Here, we investigated the presence and diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in bats and their ectoparasites (Diptera and Siphonaptera) collected across South Africa and Swaziland. We collected 384 blood samples and 14 ectoparasites across 29 different bat species and found positive samples in four insectivorous and two frugivorous bat species, as well as their Nycteribiidae flies. Phylogenetic analyses revealed diverse Bartonella genotypes and one main group of Rickettsia, distinct from those previously reported in bats and their ectoparasites, and for some closely related to human pathogens. Our results suggest a differential pattern of host specificity depending on bat species. Bartonella spp. identified in bat flies and blood were identical supporting that bat flies may serve as vectors. Our results represent the first report of bat-borne Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in these countries and highlight the potential role of bats as reservoirs of human bacterial pathogens.en© 2016 Dietrich et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.PathogensVoonotic threatsAfricaBatsDiversityBartonella spp.Rickettsia spp.EctoparasiteSouth Africa (SA)SwazilandArticle