Attempt to Artificially Infect Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) with Bartonella henselae (Alphaproteobacteria: Bartonellaceae)

Abstract Bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are common, hematophagous ectoparasites of humans and other animals and are experiencing an international resurgence. Cimicids have been suspected in the transmission of many disease agents, including Bartonella species; however, disease transmission of any kind has not yet been confirmed in natural disease cycles. Bartonella spp. are transmitted by a variety of arthropods, including fleas, lice, and sand flies, but the potential role of bed bugs in transmission remains unknown. In this study, we used an artificial membrane to feed rabbit blood, either infected or uninfected with Bartonella henselae Regnery et al. (Alphaproteobacteria: Bartonellaceae) to two groups of adult Cimex lectularius L. After 2 wks, the presence of B. henselae in the gut and salivary glands of bugs was assessed via PCR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Although 4 of 10 bed bug guts showed evidence of B. henselae, we were unable to visually detect B. henselae in any of the salivary gland TEM images.