Transmission and Maintenance Cycle of Bartonella quintana among Rhesus Macaques, China

Abstract

We detected Bartonella quintana in 48.6% of captive rhesus macaques from an animal facility in Beijing, China. Prevalence of infection increased over the period of observation. Our findings suggest that macaques may serve as reservoir hosts for B. quintana and that Pedicinus obtusus lice might act as efficient vectors.

Keywords

• Bartonella quintana
• rhesus macaques
• reservoir host
• lice
• transmission
• China