@article{angelakis_billeter_breitschwerdt_chomel_raoult_2010, title={Potential for Tick-borne Bartonelloses}, volume={16}, ISSN={1080-6040 1080-6059}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1603.081685}, DOI={10.3201/eid1603.081685}, abstractNote={As worldwide vectors of human infectious diseases, ticks are considered to be second only to mosquitoes. Each tick species has preferred environmental conditions and biotopes that determine its geographic distribution, the pathogens it vectors, and the areas that pose risk for tick-borne diseases. Researchers have identified an increasing number of bacterial pathogens that are transmitted by ticks, including Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia spp. Recent reports involving humans and canines suggest that ticks should be considered as potential vectors of Bartonella spp. To strengthen this suggestion, numerous molecular surveys to detect Bartonella DNA in ticks have been conducted. However, there is little evidence that Bartonella spp. can replicate within ticks and no definitive evidence of transmission by a tick to a vertebrate host.}, number={3}, journal={Emerging Infectious Diseases}, publisher={Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)}, author={Angelakis, Emmanouil and Billeter, Sarah A. and Breitschwerdt, Edward B. and Chomel, Bruno B. and Raoult, Didier}, year={2010}, month={Mar}, pages={385–391} }
 @article{billeter_diniz_battisti_munderloh_breitschwerdt_levy_2009, title={Infection and replication of Bartonella species within a tick cell line}, volume={49}, ISSN={0168-8162 1572-9702}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10493-009-9255-1}, DOI={10.1007/s10493-009-9255-1}, abstractNote={Bartonella species are fastidious, gram negative bacteria, some of which are transmitted by arthropod vectors, including fleas, sandflies, and lice. There is very little information regarding the interaction and/or transmission capabilities of Bartonella species by ticks. In the present study, we demonstrate successful infection of the Amblyomma americanum cell line, AAE12, by seven Bartonella isolates and three Candidatus Bartonella species by electron or light microscopy. With the exception of Bartonella bovis, infection with all other examined Bartonella species induced cytopathic effects characterized by heavy cellular vacuolization and eventually cell lysis. Furthermore, using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), we demonstrated significant amplification of two B. henselae genotype I isolates in the A. americanum cell line over a 5 days period. Ultimately, tick-cell derived Bartonella antigens may prove useful for the development of more sensitive diagnostic reagents and may assist in the development of an effective vaccine to prevent the further spread of disease caused by these organisms.}, number={3}, journal={Experimental and Applied Acarology}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Billeter, Sarah A. and Diniz, Pedro Paulo V. P. and Battisti, James M. and Munderloh, Ulrike G. and Breitschwerdt, Edward B. and Levy, Michael G.}, year={2009}, month={Feb}, pages={193–208} }
 @article{diniz_billeter_otranto_de caprariis_petanides_mylonakis_koutinas_breitschwerdt_2009, title={Molecular Documentation of Bartonella Infection in Dogs in Greece and Italy}, volume={47}, ISSN={0095-1137}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00082-09}, DOI={10.1128/JCM.00082-09}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Clinical Microbiology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Diniz, P. P. V. P. and Billeter, S. A. and Otranto, D. and De Caprariis, D. and Petanides, T. and Mylonakis, M. E. and Koutinas, A. F. and Breitschwerdt, E. B.}, year={2009}, month={Mar}, pages={1565–1567} }
 @article{billeter_miller_breitschwerdt_levy_2008, title={Detection of two Bartonella tamiae-like sequences in Amblyomma americanum (Acari : Ixodidae) using 16S-23S intergenic spacer region-specific primers}, volume={45}, ISSN={["0022-2585"]}, DOI={10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[176:DOTBTS]2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Four hundred and sixty-six questing Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) from Carolina County, VA, and 98 questing A. americanum from Chatham County, NC, were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the Bartonella 16S-23S intergenic spacer region. Two amplicons, ≈270–280 bp, were detected in two ticks from Virginia. Based upon PCR and sequencing, an adult male and adult female tick harbored DNA sequences closely related to Bartonella tamiae (DQ395180). Bartonella DNA was not detected in A. americanum from North Carolina. Potential transmission of Bartonella spp. by A. americanum should be the focus of future experimental studies.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Billeter, Sarah A. and Miller, Melissa K. and Breitschwerdt, Edward B. and Levy, Michael G.}, year={2008}, month={Jan}, pages={176–179} }
 @article{billeter_levy_chomel_breitschwerdt_2008, title={Vector transmission of Bartonella species with emphasis on the potential for tick transmission}, volume={22}, ISSN={0269-283X 1365-2915}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00713.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00713.x}, abstractNote={AbstractBartonellaspecies are gram‐negative bacteria that infect erythrocytes, endothelial cells and macrophages, often leading to persistent blood‐borne infections. Because of the ability of variousBartonellaspecies to reside within erythrocytes of a diverse number of animal hosts, there is substantial opportunity for the potential uptake of these blood‐borne bacteria by a variety of arthropod vectors that feed on animals and people. FiveBartonellaspecies are transmitted by lice, fleas or sandflies. However,BartonellaDNA has been detected orBartonellaspp. have been cultured from numerous other arthropods. This review discussesBartonellatransmission by sandflies, lice and fleas, the potential for transmission by other vectors, and data supporting transmission by ticks. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture methods have been used to detectBartonellain ticks, either questing or host‐attached, throughout the world. Case studies and serological or molecular surveys involving humans, cats and canines provide indirect evidence supporting transmission ofBartonellaspecies by ticks. Of potential clinical relevance, many studies have proposed co‐transmission ofBartonellawith other known tick‐borne pathogens. Currently, critically important experimental transmission studies have not been performed forBartonellatransmission by many potential arthropod vectors, including ticks.}, number={1}, journal={Medical and Veterinary Entomology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Billeter, S. A. and Levy, M. G. and Chomel, B. B. and Breitschwerdt, E. B.}, year={2008}, month={Mar}, pages={1–15} }