Bats are an important reservoir for many viral pathogens in humans. However, their role in the transmission of bacterial pathogens is neglected, as is that of their ectoparasites. This study focuses on the molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in bat bugs Cimex pipistrelli using partial sequences of gltA (citrate synthase), ssrA (transfer messenger RNA, tmRNA), and the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as targets. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2/112 (1.79% prevalence) samples from bat bugs. Due to the fact that bat bugs can sporadically bite humans, more extensive surveillance and vector competence studies are needed to ascertain zoonotic risk of bat-associated Bartonella spp.

Department of Epidemiology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 N Wolfe St Baltimore MD 21205 USA

Department of Experimental Biology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 753 5 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Květná 8 603 65 Brno Czech Republic

Veterinary Research Institute Hudcova 70 62100 Brno Czech Republic

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