Bartonella alsatica in wild and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Netherlands

Members of the genus Bartonella are Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacteria that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Bartonella alsatica was detected in the spleens and livers of 7 out of 56 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and in the liver of 1 out of 87 domestic rabbits in the Netherlands. The molecular evidence of B. alsatica infection in wild as well as domestic rabbits indicates the possibility of exposure to humans when these come in close contact with rabbits and possibly their fleas with subsequent risk of Bartonella infection and disease.