Evaluating Bartonella Infection in Two Semi-Domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) Herds in Norway
2024
Jones, Stephanie
Bartonella is a genus of intracellular bacteria capable of infecting a variety of hosts, including humans, other mammals, birds and reptiles. The bacteria are primarily transmitted by arthropods via infected feces or bites. Recently, Bartonella spp. have been found in several arctic and subarctic species, including nest fleas present in bird colonies along caribou migration paths. Additionally, a high prevalence of Bartonella has been found in moose from Norway, presumably transmitted by the deer ked (Lipoptena cervid). These findings bring into question whether caribou and reindeer are susceptible to infection with Bartonella bacteria and if climate change may have significant implications for vector-borne diseases in semi-domesticated reindeer herds as the climate becomes more favorable for insect survival. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and potential factors impacting Bartonella infections in semi-domesticated reindeer in Norway. Samples for this study were taken from 185 unique individuals from two semi-domesticated herds in Tana (Finnmark county) and Røros (Trøndelag county), representing herds outside and inside the known deer ked range, respectively. Of the 218 samples, none tested positive for Bartonella DNA via conventional PCR. These findings suggest that semi-domesticated reindeer have limited exposure to the vectors that host Bartonella spp. Future studies in reindeer could focus on the presence of antibodies, as our study is limited to detecting active infection in blood and organs. Further surveillance can provide information on continued range expansion of potential vectors in the face of a changing climate.
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