Six new Bartonella species isolated from bats in Senegal

Bartonella species are host-associated Pseudomonadota causing various human diseases and a broad range of clinical manifestations. These bacteria are primarily maintained in animal reservoirs and transmitted to humans through direct contact or via haematophagous vectors. In this study, six novel Bartonella species – Bartonella numerosa sp. nov. strain CB178 T (=CSUR B1106 T =JCM 36790 T ), Bartonella vaga sp. nov. strain CB169 T (=CSUR B1103 T =JCM 36788 T ), Bartonella occidentalis sp. nov. strain CB175 T (=CSUR B1104 T =JCM 36789 T ), Bartonella rhinolophi sp. nov. strain CB74 T (=CSUR B1102 T =JCM 36787 T ), Bartonella eidoli sp. nov. strain CB189 T (=CSUR B1105 T =JCM 36791 T ) and Bartonella propinqua sp. nov. strain CB54 T (=CSUR B1101 T =JCM 36786 T ) – were isolated from Eidolon helvum , Rhinolophus fumigatus and Epomophorus gambianus bats in Senegal. Phylogenetic analyses of these species reveal their widespread distribution across Africa. Notably, B. vaga , isolated from E. helvum , clusters with rodent-associated Bartonella strains. This highlights the importance of studying both hosts, which may serve as reservoirs for Bartonella species and potentially contribute to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. All strains are Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strains CB169 T , CB175 T , CB74 T and CB54 T were C 18 : 1 ω 7c, C 18 : 0 and C 16 : 0 , except for strains CB178 T and CB189 T , in which C 18 : 1 ω 7c, C 16 : 0 and C 18 : 0 were dominant.