Evolutional and geographical relationships of Bartonella grahamii isolates from wild rodents by multi-locus sequencing analysis.

To clarify the relationship between Bartonella grahamii strains and both the rodent host species and the geographic location of the rodent habitat, we have investigated 31 B. grahamii strains from ten rodent host species from Asia (Japan and China), North America (Canada and the USA), and Europe (Russia and the UK). On the basis of multi-locus sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA, ftsZ, gltA, groEL, ribC, and rpoB, the strains were classified into two large groups, an Asian group and an American/European group.

Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence of shepherds and their flocks in the lower Saint-Lawrence River region of Quebec, Canada.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among the shepherds and their sheep in the lower Saint-Lawrence River region (LSLRR) of Quebec, Canada.

Design: A prospective human-animal comparative study was conducted with 81 shepherds from 46 farms and a control group matched for sex and age. All participants answered a standardized questionnaire to evaluate their risk factors for Q fever, including a specific section on the work practices of the shepherds.

Diversity of Bartonella genotypes in Richardson's ground squirrel populations.

The diversity and dynamics of Bartonella genotypes found in wild Richardson's ground squirrels (RGS), Spermophilus richardsonii were monitored at multiple sites in Saskatchewan, Canada from 2002 to 2004. Based on sequence analysis of a portion of the Bartonella citrate synthase (gltA) gene, four different genotypes were detected in 233 isolates from 176 animals. The majority (87%) of sequences were identified as genotype H, with genotypes I, J, and K accounting for 8%, 4%, and 1% of sequences, respectively.

Rodent-associated Bartonella in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Six species of wild rodents were sampled at 10 sites in 2002 and 2003 to determine the prevalence of Bartonella infections in rodent communities near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Isolates were characterized genotypically and compared with isolates found at other locations. Of 104 wild rodents examined, 57% were infected with Bartonella and prevalence within species varied from 49% for Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) to 90% for Franklin's ground squirrels (S.

Bartonella seropositivity in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Background: An association between Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and seropositivity for Bartonella henselae (BH) has been described. The objective of this study was to see if such an association exists in northern Alberta.

Methods: Immunofluorescent antibody testing utilizing an antigen prepared from B.

Characterization and expression of the Neurospora crassa nmt-1 gene.

The Neurospora crassa homologue of the yeast no message in thiamine ( nmt-1) gene was characterized. The deduced 342-amino-acid gene product has more than 60% identity with other fungal homologues and 42% similarity to a putative bacterial permease. In addition to three introns disrupting the coding sequence, a differentially spliced intron in the 5' untranslated region was also detected.