Detection of Bartonella species from cattle ticks in South Korea

During 2010～2011, 877 ticks (Hemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes spp.) were collected from cattle in South Korea. According to 16S RNA PCR assay for Bartonella species, 9 of them showed specific 356-bp band products. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S RNA showed two clusters of Bartonella strains. One cluster included four isolates that were quite similar to those previously registered on Genbank from various sources, whereas the other was highly related to the reference strain from human. It suggested that cattle ticks harbouring various Bartonella spp. might circulate among human, animals, and farm surroundings. Therefore, as ticks are main vectors that transfer pathogens affecting human beings and domestic cattle, further studies are required for bartonellosis in cattle.