ANKARA UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, cilt.60, sa.4, ss.235-239, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
The species within the genus Bartonella are intracellular bacteria causing long-lasting bacteremia in humans and animals. Eleven Bartonella species isolated from animals have zoonotic characteristics. The four of zoonotic Bartonella species have been reported in rodents. In this study, Bartonella spp. in 42 field mice, (Microtus socialis), captured from one spot in Central Anatolia Region were investigated by culture and molecular methods. The positivity of Bartonella was 16.6% (7/42) by culture, and 57.1% (24/42) by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) from liver tissues of field mice. The citrate synthesis gene regions (gltA) of the isolated seven strains were identified by DNA sequencing analysis. It was determined that five isolates were Bartonella taylorii, and two isolates were Bartonella grahamii which are zoonotic. This study is the first report for the presence of Bartonella spp. in rodents in Turkey.