Five-striped Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus pennanti), a silent vector of human Bartonellosis in Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Bartonella species, known as stealth pathogens, are particularly challenging to detect and diagnose. In Pakistan, Bartonella species have been detected in various rat species indicating that they can vary in host specificity, with some infecting multiple host species. Despite the favorable conditions for disease transmission in Pakistan, no studies have been conducted on squirrel reservoirs within the country. In regions like Bahawalpur, where humans and squirrels often coexist, might create a significant health risk. We aimed to detect Bartonella in the blood of the Five-striped Indian Palm Squirrel (F. pennanti) to investigate its potential role as a reservoir and vector for human bartonellosis. We examined the blood smears of 18 Indian palm squirrels (F. pennanti) including 7 males and 11 females. Out of the 18 squirrels examined, 11 (61.1%) tested positive for Bartonella infection, revealing a notably high prevalence of this hemoparasite in the local squirrel population. This finding highlights the requirement for additional investigation and public health surveillance to evaluate the effect of Bartonella transmission from squirrels to people around here.