TMU has identified the types of bat bacteria circulating in Russia.

A research study was conducted by an international team of biologists, including Maria Orlova, an associate professor at the Department of Mobilization Preparation for Healthcare and Disaster Medicine at Tyumen State Medical University.

The findings are published in the international journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology. The scientists performed a molecular analysis of ticks collected from 13 species of bats inhabiting areas from Central Europe to the Far East, including Tyumen.

Bartonella bacteria were found in approximately one-third of the examined tick samples. The question of the pathogenicity of these pathogens for humans remains unresolved.

“Through our work studying ticks as carriers of Bartonella strains, we have integrated our country into the broader context of Eurasia. Previously, there was no such information available for Russia, and only a very limited number of studies focused on the detection of bacterial pathogens in insectivorous bats and their associated ticks. It turned out that bacteria of this genus are found in bats in almost all regions of our country, and there are numerous strains. Now we have a rough understanding of the distribution of bat-borne Bartonella in the European part of Russia, the Urals, and Western Siberia. Similar research needs to be continued for Eastern Siberia and the Far East,” explained Maria Orlova.

“Additionally, our study clarifies the role of gamasid mites in the circulation of the pathogen – according to our data, they are constant reservoirs of Bartonella and contribute to the long-term maintenance of bacteria within bat populations. The pathogen is more frequently found in bats that hibernate in caves than in urban species, and it is predominantly associated with ticks of the Spinturnicidae family.”

Human encroachment into natural habitats, combined with frequent contacts with wild animals, creates a global risk for the spread of various zoonotic diseases. Mammals with regular synanthropic populations, such as bats, play a crucial role in the circulation of zoonotic (animal-to-human) pathogens.

The investigation into the role of ticks in the spread of infections among bats will continue to identify potential health threats to humans.