Six new Bartonella species isolated from bats in Senegal

<i>Bartonella</i> species are host-associated <i>Pseudomonadota</i> causing various human diseases and a broad range of clinical manifestations. These bacteria are primarily maintained in animal reservoirs and transmitted to humans through direct contact or via haematophagous vectors. In this study, six novel <i>Bartonella</i> species - <i>Bartonella numerosa</i> sp. nov. strain CB178^T (=CSUR B1106^T=JCM 36790^T), <i>Bartonella vaga</i> sp. nov. strain CB169^T (=CSUR B1103^T=JCM 36788^T), <i>Bartonella occidentalis</i> sp. nov. strain CB175^T (=CSUR B1104^T=JCM 36789^T), <i>Bartonella rhinolophi</i> sp. nov. strain CB74^T (=CSUR B1102^T=JCM 36787^T), <i>Bartonella eidoli</i> sp. nov. strain CB189^T (=CSUR B1105^T=JCM 36791^T) and <i>Bartonella propinqua</i> sp. nov. strain CB54^T (=CSUR B1101^T=JCM 36786^T) - were isolated from <i>Eidolon helvum</i>, <i>Rhinolophus fumigatus</i> and <i>Epomophorus gambianus</i> bats in Senegal. Phylogenetic analyses of these species reveal their widespread distribution across Africa. Notably, <i>B. vaga</i>, isolated from <i>E. helvum</i>, clusters with rodent-associated <i>Bartonella</i> strains. This highlights the importance of studying both hosts, which may serve as reservoirs for <i>Bartonella</i> species and potentially contribute to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. All strains are Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strains CB169^T, CB175^T, CB74^T and CB54^T were C_{18 : 1} <i> ω</i>7c, C_{18 : 0} and C_{16 : 0}, except for strains CB178^T and CB189^T, in which C_{18 : 1} <i> ω</i>7c, C_{16 : 0} and C_{18 : 0} were dominant.