Papadogiannakis E.a DVM, CertSAD, PhD, Spanakos G.b PhD, Kontou I.a MD, MPH,
Kontos V.a DVM, PhD, Velonakis E.c MD, PhD, Sklivas D.a MPH, Koutis C.d MD, PhD
a Department of Veterinary Public Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
b Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
c Department of Microbiology and Applied Immunology, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
d Department of Public Health, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Athens, Greece

ABSTRACT. This study was a preliminary attempt to detect Bartonella sp. in tissues (liver and heart) obtained from wild rodents (Rattus norvegicus) in central Greece. Eighteen (18) liver and eighteen (18) heart samples were examined, which were obtained from twenty three (23) animals. Two (2) liver samples were found positive, while the heart samples examined were found negative for Bartonella sp. 16S-23S intergenic spacer rDNA gene by PCR. Sequencing of the positive PCR products and comparison with those available in GenBank using the BLAST program revealed the same species of Bartonella in both positive samples with 100% sequence homology to Bartonella coopersplainsensis.
Keywords: Bartonella coopersplainsensis, Rattus norvegicus, Greece, PCR