Phylogenetic relationships of the 45 sequence types from 79 bartonella isolates obtained from straw-colored fruit bats (<i>Eidolon helvum</i>) in seven African countries/regions.

<p>The number of isolates belonging to each sequence type is given in parentheses. The phylogenetic tree was constructed from concatenated sequences (4,622bp—5,160bp) of eight loci (<i>ftsZ</i>, <i>gltA</i>, <i>nuoG</i>, <i>ribC</i>, <i>rpoB</i>, <i>ssrA</i>, ITS, and 16S rRNA) using the neighbor-joining method. Bootstrap values were calculated with 1000 replicates. The sequence types are grouped into six phylogenetic lineages (boxed clades) named as <i>E1—E5</i> and <i>Ew</i>, with each lineage presumably representing a separate and unique <i>Bartonella</i> species.</p

Allelic profiles, sequence types (ST), and lineage identification for the 79 <i>Bartonella</i> isolates from different geographic locations.

<p>* <i>ribC</i> alleles with a reduced fragment (partially missing).</p><p>Allelic profiles, sequence types (ST), and lineage identification for the 79 <i>Bartonella</i> isolates from different geographic locations.</p

Network phylogeny of the 45 bartonella sequence types obtained from <i>Eidolon helvum</i>.

<p>The network was constructed in SplitsTree using the NeighborNet algorithm based on concatenated sequences of eight loci (<i>ftsZ</i>, <i>gltA</i>, <i>nuoG</i>, <i>ribC</i>, <i>rpoB</i>, <i>ssrA</i>, ITS, and 16S rRNA). Clusters of sequence types were named according to phylogenetic lineages (<i>E1</i>—<i>E5</i>, <i>Ew</i>). Individual isolate labels indicate samples with mixed ancestry due to possible recombination.</p

Allelic profiles and sequence types (ST) of 30 <i>Bartonella</i> isolates from Thai bats.

<p>Allelic profiles and sequence types (ST) of 30 <i>Bartonella</i> isolates from Thai bats.</p

Phylogenetic relationships among <i>Bartonella</i> genogroups from Thai bats, other strains from bats, and named <i>Bartonella</i> species assessed by multiple loci.

<p>The Bayesian tree was inferred in BEAST by partitioned analysis of five loci (<i>ftsZ</i>, <i>gltA</i>, <i>nuoG</i>, <i>rpoB</i>, and ITS) using unlinked GTR+Γ+I substitution models for each locus and a linked birth-death speciation model with incomplete sampling. Sequences were assembled from named <i>Bartonella</i> species, <i>Bartonella</i> strains from bats (those characterized by at least two loci), and 30 isolates from Thai bats. Branch lengths are in substitutions per site and posterior probabilities of nodes are indicated by the size and color of circles at each node. Tip labels for <i>Bartonella</i> strains from Thai bats are colored red and distinct genogroups are marked to the right of the tree. <i>Bartonella</i> strains from bats are labeled with the host species and country of origin.</p

Nucleotide polymorphism and diversity among <i>Bartonella</i> strains from Thai bats.

<p>Nucleotide polymorphism and diversity among <i>Bartonella</i> strains from Thai bats.</p

Diversity and phylogenetic relationships among <i>Bartonella</i> strains from Thai bats

<div><p>Bartonellae are phylogenetically diverse, intracellular bacteria commonly found in mammals. Previous studies have demonstrated that bats have a high prevalence and diversity of <i>Bartonella</i> infections globally. Isolates (n = 42) were obtained from five bat species in four provinces of Thailand and analyzed using sequences of the citrate synthase gene (<i>gltA</i>). Sequences clustered into seven distinct genogroups; four of these genogroups displayed similarity with <i>Bartonella</i> spp. sequences from other bats in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Thirty of the isolates representing these seven genogroups were further characterized by sequencing four additional loci (<i>ftsZ</i>, <i>nuoG</i>, <i>rpoB</i>, and ITS) to clarify their evolutionary relationships with other <i>Bartonella</i> species and to assess patterns of diversity among strains. Among the seven genogroups, there were differences in the number of sequence variants, ranging from 1–5, and the amount of nucleotide divergence, ranging from 0.035–3.9%. Overall, these seven genogroups meet the criteria for distinction as novel <i>Bartonella</i> species, with sequence divergence among genogroups ranging from 6.4–15.8%. Evidence of intra- and intercontinental phylogenetic relationships and instances of homologous recombination among <i>Bartonella</i> genogroups in related bat species were found in Thai bats.</p></div