Bartonella spp. distribution assessment in foxes coupling geospatially-based techniques

In this study, the presence of Bartonella spp. in 114 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) of Piedmont (province of Cuneo and Biella) and Aosta Valley (Italy) was investigated. Spleen samples of hunted foxes were collected for Bartonella spp. DNA detection, and qPCR assay of ssrA locus detection was used as initial screening. The samples positive for Bartonella spp. DNA were subjected to end-point PCR to detect ssrA, gltA and rpoB loci. Based on qPCR results, the prevalence of infection with Bartonella spp. was 7.9% (9/114). After sequencing, Bartonella schoenbuchensis R1 was found to be the most isolated Bartonella species (5/8, 62,5%). Candidatus “Bartonella gerbillinarum” was found in two samples (2/8, 25%). In conclusion, this work can contribute to the study of Bartonella infection in fox populations in Italy, allowing for a more comprehensive epidemiological picture on a national scale. Concerning remote sensing contribution, data from NASA USGS Landsat 4-9 missions (TOA collection), ranging from 2011 to 2022, were processed in Google Earth Engine. Assuming that pathogens, especially in rangelands, can be influenced by humidity, the Tasseled Cap Wetness index (TCW) was computed for each date temporal profile consisting of composite images for each meteorological season. Seasonal TCW was positively associated to Bartonella spp. infection in foxes as infection was always associated to TCW >0.7. Moreover, Canonical Cor-responding Analysis between pathogen prevalence and municipal-based TCW show a strong link between positivity and TCW, demonstrating the possible use of TCW as a parameter to facilitate disease management and control. © 2024, Italian Society of Remote Sensing. All rights reserved.