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Apologies if this has been done before. I thought I'd start a Bartonella information thread. I'll be adding to this as I am able. I hope others will post resources and info that they come across as well.
Fuzzy
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Even though I posted this information quite awhile ago, I'm posting it again to be included here.
I got these from an LLMD and thought they might be helpful to some. These symptom check-lists do not necessarily list all of the known symptoms associated with Bartonella and Babesia.
Bartonella/Babesia Symptom Questionnaire
Bartonellosis
Common symptoms of bartonellosis include:
___Fatigue (often with agitation, unlike Lyme disease, which is more exhaustion)
___Low grade fevers, especially morning and/or late afternoon, often associated with feelings of "coming down with the flu or a virus"
___Sweats, often morning or late afternoon (sometimes at night) - often described as "thick" or "sticky" in nature
___Headaches, especially frontal (often confused with sinus) or on top of head
___Eye symptoms including episodes of blurred vision, red eyes, dry eyes
___Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and sometimes hearing problems (decreased or even increased sensitivity - so-called hyperacusis)
___Sore throats (recurring)
___Swollen glands, especially neck and under arms
___Anxiety and worry attacks; others perceive as "very anxious"
___Episodes of confusion and disorientation that are usually transient (and very scary); often can be seizure-like in nature
___Joint pain and stiffness (often both Left and Right sides as opposed to Lyme which is often on one side only with pain and stiffness that changes locations)
___Muscle pains especially the calves; may be twitching and cramping also
___Foot pain, more in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis)
___Nerve irritation symptoms which can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, etc.
___Tremors and/or muscle twitching
___Heart palpitations and strange chest pains
___Episodes of breathlessness
___Strange rashes recurring on the body often, red stretch marks, and peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of the legs or arms, spider veins
___Gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and acid reflux
___Shin bone pain and tenderness
Bartonella is a bacterium that causes illness, the most commonly known of which is a disease called "Cat Scratch Fever." Thousands of known cases of Bartonella occur in the U.S. each Year, with the vast majority of known cases due to bites from fleas that infest cats or infected dogs (may also occur directly from bites and scratches from infected dogs or cats). Bartonella can also be transmitted by ticks that transmit Lyme Disease. In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms.
It is unclear whether the organism that we see transmitted along with Lyme disease is actually a Bartonella species (such as B. henselae or B. quintana) or is "Bartonella-Like Organism" (BLO) that is yet to be fully identified. While BLO has features similar to organisms in the Bartonella family, it also has features slimiar to the Mycoplasma and the Francisella (causes tularemia) families.
_________________
Babesiosis
As with other co-infections, there is a lot of overlap of symptoms between Lyme disease and Babesiosis. An accumulation of the following signs and symptoms probably warrant testing and/or treatment of Babesiosis:
___Chills
___Fatigue and often excessive sleepiness
___High fever at onset of illness
___Night sweats that are often drenching and profuse
___Severe muscle pains, especially the large muscles of the legs (quads, buttocks, etc.)
___Neurological symptoms often described as "dizzy, tipsy, and spaciness," similar to a sensation of "floating" or "walking off the top of a mountain onto a cloud"
___Depression
___Episodes of breathlessness, "air hunger", and/or cough
___Decreased appetite and/or nausea
___Spleen and/or liver enlargement
___Abnormal labs (low white blood count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated sed rate)
___Headaches (migraine-like, persistent, and especially involving the back of the head and upper neck areas)
___Joint pain (more common with Lyme and Bartonella)
___anxiety/panic (more common with Bartonella)
___Lymph gland swelling (more common with Bartonella and Lyme)
[ 20. May 2008, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: FuzzySlippers ]
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This is an excellent article on Bartonella from the American Society for Microbiology. While the title of this scientific article is "Bartonella (Rochalimaea) Quitana Infections," other forms of Bartonella are discussed as well.
p.s. Sorry I couldn't get the link copy as a live link so you'll have to paste it into a new window. Unless someone else can post the live link.
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The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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Keebler
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BRAIN: Encephalopathy may occur 1-6 weeks after the initial infection and is fairly common in patients with Bartonella. Note: Approximately 50 percent of patients who develop Encephalopathy can be affected by seizures (from focal to generalized, and from brief and self-limited to status epilepticus). Headaches, Cognitive Dysfunction, and CNS Lesions may be evident.
RASH AND LYMPHADENITIS: Erythematous papules (red splotches or slightly raised red spots) may develop. Such papules occasionally occur on the lower limbs but are more common on the upper limbs, the head, and neck. The papules may appear on the skin or mucous membranes. Bartonella may also cause subcutaneous nodules, with some bone involvement possible. The nodules may show some hyperpigmentation, be tender, fester, and/or be enlarged or swollen, but not always.
EYES: Conjunctivitis, Bartonella Neuroretinitis, Loss of Vision, Flame Shaped Hemorrhages, Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion with Vision Loss, Cotton Wool Exudates, Parinaud's Oculoglandular Syndrome, and Papilledema. BONES AND MUSCLES: Osteomyelitis, Myositis, Osteolytic Lesions (softening of bone), Myelitis, Radiculitis, Transverse Myelitis, Arthritis, Chronic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.
HEART: Endocarditis, Cardiomegaly. Possible lab findings: The following may show up during standard testing: Thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, anemia, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, elevated bilirubin, abnormal liver enzymes. X-ray of the bone may show areas of lysis or poorly-defined areas of cortical destruction with periosteal reaction. Cardiomegaly may show up on a chest X-Ray.
Biopsies of lymph nodes reveal pathology often indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. Reports of biopsies strongly suggestive of lymphoma do occur. Tests occasionally show an enlarged liver with multiple hypodense areas scattered throughout the parenchyma.
Fuzzy
[ 19. May 2008, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: FuzzySlippers ]
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posted
There is a good Bartonella Information thread at http://canlyme.com/ including this very thorough Powerpoint presentation by Bruno Chmole from the University of California at Davis:
It has been said that Bartonella is the most common of all tick-borne pathogens. Indeed, there seems to be a fairly distinct clinical syndrome when this type of organism is present in the chronic Lyme patient. However, several aspects of this infection seem to indicate that this tick-associated strain of Bartonella is different from that described as "cat scratch disease". For example, in patients who fit the clinical picture, standard Bartonella blood testing is commonly non-reactive. Furthermore, the usual Bartonella medications do not work for this- they suppress the symptoms but do not permanently clear them. For these reasons I like to refer to this as a "Bartonella-like organism" (BLO), rather than assume it is a more common species.
Indicators of BLO infection include symptoms involving the central nervous system that are out of proportion to the other systemic symptoms of chronic Lyme. There seems to be an increased irritability to the CMS, with agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures, plus symptoms of encephalitis, such as cognitive deficits and confusion. Other key symptoms may include gastritis, lower abdominal pain (mesenteric adenitis), sore soles, especially in the AM, tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities, and red rashes. These rashes may have the appearance of red streaks like stretch marks that do not follow skin planes, spider veins, or red papular eruptions. Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the throat can be sore.
Because standard Bartonella testing, either by serology or PCR, may not pick up this BLO, the blood test is very insensitive. Therefore, the diagnosis is a clinical one, based on the above points. Also, suspect infection with BLO in extensively treated Lyme patients who still are encephalitic, and who never had been treated with a significant course of specific treatment.
The drug of choice to treat BLO is levofloxacin (Levaquin). Levofloxacin is usually never used for Lyme or Babesia, so many patients who have tick-borne diseases, and who have been treated for them but remain ill, may in fact be infected with BLO. Treatment consist of 500 mg daily (may be adjusted based on body weight) for at least one month. Treat for three months or longer in the more ill patient. It has been suggested that levofloxacin may be more effective in treating this infection if a proton pump inhibitor is added in standard doses.
Another subtlety is that certain antibiotic combinations seem to inhibit the action of levofloxacin, while others seem to be neutral. I advise against combining Levaquin with an erythromycin-like drug, as clinically such patients do poorly. On the other hand, combinations with cephalosporins, penicillins and tetracyclines are okay. Alternatives to levofloxacin include rifampin, gentamicin and possibly streptomycin.
Levofloxacin is generally well tolerated, with almost no stomach upset. Very rarely, it can cause confusion and insomnia- this is usually temporary, and may be relieved by lowering the dose. There is, however, one side effect that would require it to be stopped- it may cause a painful tendonitis, usually of the largest tendons. If this happens, then the levofloxacin must be stopped or tendon rupture may occur. Unfortunately, levofloxacin and drugs in this family cannot be given to those under the age of 18, so other alternatives, such as azithromycin and/or rifampin, are used in children.
Incidentally, animal studies show that Bartonella may be transmitted across the placenta. No human studies have been done.
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Do Bartonella Infections Cause Agitation, Panic Disorder, and Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Posted 09/13/2007
James L. Schaller, MD, MAR; Glenn A. Burkland, DMD; P.J. Langhoff Author Information Abstract Introduction
Bartonella is an emerging infection found in cities, suburbs, and rural locations. Routine national labs offer testing for only 2 species, but at least 9 have been discovered as human infections within the last 15 years. Some authors discuss Bartonella cases having atypical presentations, with serious morbidity considered uncharacteristic of more routine Bartonella infections. Some atypical findings include distortion of vision, abdominal pain, severe liver and spleen tissue abnormalities, thrombocytopenic purpura, bone infection, arthritis, abscesses, heart tissue and heart valve problems. While some articles discuss Bartonella as a cause of neurologic illnesses, psychiatric illnesses have received limited attention. Case reports usually do not focus on psychiatric symptoms and typically only as incidental comorbid findings. In this article, we discuss patients exhibiting new-onset agitation, panic attacks, and treatment-resistant depression, all of which may be attributed to Bartonella. Methods
Three patients receiving care in an outpatient clinical setting developed acute onset personality changes and agitation, depression, and panic attacks. They were retrospectively examined for evidence of Bartonella infections. The medical and psychiatric treatment progress of each patient was tracked until both were significantly resolved and the Bartonella was cured. Results
The patients generally seemed to require higher dosing of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or antipsychotics in order to function normally. Doses were reduced following antibiotic treatment and as the presumed signs of Bartonella infection remitted. All patients improved significantly following treatment and returned to their previously healthy or near-normal baseline mental health status. Discussion
New Bartonella species are emerging as human infections. Most do not have antibody or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing at this time. Manual differential examinations are of unknown utility, due to many factors such as low numbers of infected red blood cells, the small size of the infecting bacteria, uncertainty of current techniques in viewing such small bacteria, and limited experience. As an emerging infection, it is unknown whether Bartonella occurrence in humans worldwide is rare or common, without further information from epidemiology, microbiology, pathology, and treatment outcomes research. Conclusion
Three patients presented with acute psychiatric disorders associated with Bartonella-like signs and symptoms. Each had clear exposure to ticks or fleas and presented with physical symptoms consistent with Bartonella, eg, an enlarged lymph node near an Ixodes tick bite and bacillary angiomatosis found only in Bartonella infections. Laboratory findings and the overall general course of the illnesses seemed consistent with Bartonella infection. The authors are not reporting that these patients offer certain proof of Bartonella infection, but we hope to raise the possibility that patients infected with Bartonella can have a variety of mental health symptoms. Since Bartonella can clearly cause neurologic disorders, we feel the presence of psychiatric disorders is a reasonable expectation.
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Chronic Vasculitis and Polyneuropathy due to Infection with Bartonella henselae. Stockmeyer B, Schoerner C, Frangou P, Moriabadi T, Heuss D, Harrer T.
Dept. of Medicine III, University Hospital Erlangen, Krankenhausstr. 12, 91054, Erlangen, Germany, [email protected].
Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease and bacillary angiomatosis, is associated with an expanding spectrum of diseases. Here, we report on a 40-year-old patient suffering from chronic recurrent painful ulcers of the toes, distal axonal sensomotor polyneuropathy and Raynaud's phenomenon. Biopsy of the sural nerve demonstrated an axonal neuropathy with a neurogenic muscular atrophy. Treatment with high dose corticosteroids had no beneficial effect. A biopsy taken from a recurring ulcer 7 years after the beginning of the disease revealed superficial ulcerated hyperkeratosis with subepithelial proliferation of small vessels compatible with a diagnosis of verruca peruana, however, without detection of microorganism. Serologic analysis revealed an elevated IFT titer of 1:1,024 against B. henselae. Treatment with erythromycin induced healing of the ulcer, remission of the vasculitis and the polyneuropathy, and a decline of the IFT titer.
This case illustrates that B. henselae infection should be considered in patients with vasculitis and polyneuropathic syndromes.
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Synopsis Bartonella Spp. in Pets and Effect on Human Health
Bruno B. Chomel,*Comments Henri-Jean Boulouis,� Soichi Maruyama,� and Edward B. Breitschwerdt� *University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, USA; �Microbiologie-Immunologie, Ecole Nationale V�t�rinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France; �Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan; and �North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Among the many mammals infected with Bartonella spp., pets represent a large reservoir for human infection because most Bartonella spp. infecting them are zoonotic. Cats are the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. koehlerae. Dogs can be infected with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, B. elizabethae, and B. quintana. The role of dogs as an important reservoir of Bartonella spp. is less clear than for cats because domestic dogs are more likely to be accidental hosts, at least in nontropical regions. Nevertheless, dogs are excellent sentinels for human infections because a similar disease spectrum develops in dogs. Transmission of B. henselae by cat fleas is better understood, although new potential vectors (ticks and biting flies) have been identified. We review current knowledge on the etiologic agents, clinical features, and epidemiologic characteristics of these emerging zoonoses.
Bartonella spp. are fastidious, hemotropic, gram-negative bacteria that are mainly transmitted by vectors. Among the 11 species or subspecies known or suspected to be pathogenic for humans, 6 have been isolated from pet dogs and cats (Table 1). Domestic cats are the principal reservoir for Bartonella henselae, the main agent of cat-scratch disease (CSD); B. clarridgeiae, which has been suspected in a few cases of CSD; and B. koehlerae, recently reported as the cause of human endocarditis (1,4). Domestic dogs could be one of the reservoirs for B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (reported as B. v. berkhoffii thereafter) because as it can cause prolonged bacteremia in this species (5,6). Dogs can also be infected with B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, and B. elizabethae (2). Recently, 2 cases of endocarditis caused by B. quintana were diagnosed (P. Kelly et al., unpub. data). As with human disease, the clinical spectrum of Bartonella infection in dogs is expanding (2). Fleas play a major role in the transmission of feline Bartonella (7), but other potential vectors, such as ticks and biting flies have been recently identified to harbor Bartonella DNA, including B. henselae (8,9). This article provides an update on the etiologic agents, new clinical features, and evolving epidemiologic characteristics of these emerging zoonoses. We will not discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Bartonella infections, as several recent review articles have been written on this subject (1,2,10).
[See above link for remainder of article]
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There is now evidence that ticks may be a significant transmitter of the Bartonella infection to humans. A study in California showed that a minimum of 2.3% of a pool of 1253 Ixodes pacificus ticks tested positive for Bartonella. Additionally, it appears that the Dermacentor species of ticks are also capable of transmitting the Bartonella bacteria.
Early symptoms of Bartonella include a red, crusted, elevated skin lesion where the bacteria enters its host (which can mimic the Lyme disease enlarging rash), followed by flu-like symptoms of fever, muscle and joint aches/pains, nausea, vomiting, and chills. Also, enlargement of the lymph nodes around the ears is often present. More serious symptoms include encephalitis, which can result in headaches, dementia, seizures, coma, inflammation of the heart, abdominal pain, bone lesions, and loss of vision. Studies also indicate that some Lyme disease patients are also infected with Bartonella. Treatment with multiple antibiotics is becoming more common in these situations.
The genus Bartonella, a group of small, weakly-staining, gram-negative bacteria, includes two species currently of human medical importance in the United States. These are B. henselae and B. quintana, .
[click on link for remainder of text]
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Clarissa
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bump for anyone who might be interested
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Boomerang
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Great info!! Thanks to all.
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mojo
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Thanks for this very informative thread.
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mojo
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djf2005
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i personally believe bartonella or blo is the biggest reason some of us are so sick and stay sick. its very hard to kill. good luck everyone. thanks for this thread, its informative
derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
This study was initiated to determine the source of infection in a human case of endocarditis (inflammation of the heart) with an unknown cause that occurred in Washoe County. The causative organism was later identified as a previously unknown bacterium and was named Bartonella washoensis. Several other members in the genus Bartonella are known to cause human disease. Among them are Oroya fever (South America), trench fever and cat scratch disease.
The Vector-Borne Diseases Program staff collaborated with researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins to identify the most likely animal source of the Bartonella infection in the human case. As rodents are often hosts for Bartonella species, blood samples were collected from a variety of rodents throughout the Truckee Meadows area. The samples were cultured to isolate Bartonella organisms. Using genetic sequencing techniques, it was then possible to compare the relatedness of the rodent bacterial isolates with those from the patient. Two of the isolates were found to be 100% genetic matches.*
The rodent species identified is the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi), which is common in Washoe County. This squirrel also happens to be the primary host species for the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) in Nevada that is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected fleas found on the squirrel. The next step in the Bartonella investigation will be to attempt to identify the possible mode of transmission between squirrels and humans and will focus on the flea common to the squirrels (Oropsylla montana).
* Kosoy, M., Murray, M., Gilmore Jr., R.D, Bai, Y., and Gage, K.L. 2003. Bartonella Strains from Ground Squirrels Are Identical to Bartonella washoensis Isolated from a Human Patient. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41:645-650.
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Concurrent infection of the central nervous system by Borrelia burgdorferi and Bartonella henselae: evidence for a novel tick-borne disease complex.
Eskow E, Rao RV, Mordechai E.
Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate Bartonella henselae as a potential human tick-borne pathogen and to evaluate its role as a coinfecting agent of the central nervous system in the presence of neuroborreliosis.
DESIGN: Case report study.
SETTING: A primary health care center in Flemington, NJ, and the Department of Research and Development at Medical Diagnostic Laboratories LLC in Mt Laurel, NJ.
SUBJECTS: Two male patients (aged 14 and 36 years) and 2 female patients (aged 15 and 30 years, respectively) with a history of tick bites and Lyme disease.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Laboratory and diagnostic findings before and after antimicrobial therapy.
RESULTS: Patients residing in a Lyme-endemic area of New Jersey with ongoing symptoms attributed to chronic Lyme disease were evaluated for possible coinfection with Bartonella species. Elevated levels of B henselae-specific antibodies were found in these patients using the immunofluorescent assay. Bartonella henselae-specific DNA was detected in their blood. None of these patients exhibited the clinical characteristics of cat-scratch disease. Findings of cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed the presence of both B henselae- and Borrelia burgdorferi-specific DNA. Bartonella henselae-specific DNA was also detected in live deer ticks obtained from the households of 2 of these patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data implicate B henselae as a potential human tick-borne pathogen. Patients with a history of neuroborreliosis who have incomplete resolution of symptoms should be evaluated for B henselae infection.
Publication Types:
* Case Reports
PMID: 11559306 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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From Emerging Infectious Diseases Rodent-Associated Bartonella Febrile Illness, Southwestern United States
Posted 07/10/2006
Jonathan Iralu; Ying Bai; Larry Crook; Bruce Tempest; Gary Simpson; Taylor McKenzie; Frederick Koster Author Information Information from Industry Assess clinically focused product information on Medscape.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Serum specimens from 114 patients hospitalized with a febrile illness were tested with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using Bartonella antigens prepared from 6 species of sigmodontine rodents and 3 known human Bartonella pathogens: B. henselae, B. quintana, and B. elizabethae. Acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples from 5 of these patients showed seroconversion with an IFA titer ≥512 to rodent-associated Bartonella antigens. The highest titer was against antigen derived from the white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula), although this rodent is not necessarily implicated as the source of infection. Three of the 5 who seroconverted showed no cross-reaction to the 3 Bartonella human pathogens. Common clinical characteristics were fever, chills, myalgias, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and transaminasemia. Although antibodies to Bartonella are cross-reactive, high-titer seroconversions to rodent-associated Bartonella antigens in adults with common clinical characteristics should stimulate the search for additional Bartonella human pathogens. Introduction
The discovery of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and its high death rate in the southwestern United States resulted in greater vigilance in evaluating patients with acute febrile illness, particularly those with thrombocytopenia.[1] Clinicians soon became aware of substantial numbers of hospitalized patients with a severe flulike prodrome and thrombocytopenia. In spite of conventional culture and serologic analysis for known pathogens and diseases, including hantaviruses, plague, tularemia, relapsing fever, spotted fever, murine typhus, and Q fever, no diagnosis could be made. To assist physicians in identifying treatable pathogens, we submitted serum to reference laboratories for diagnostic seroassays directed at known pathogens and organisms not previously associated with human disease. A concept of the role of rodent-associated bartonellae as a cause of unexplained febrile illness in the western United States has been recently developed (M. Kosoy, pers. comm.). We considered the possibility that some cases in our study were caused by Bartonella species.
Among at least 20 known species and subspecies of Bartonella, 5 have been identified as causes of human disease in North America.[2,3] B. henselae causes cat-scratch disease with regional lymphadenitis and occasionally hepatosplenic disease in the immunocompetent host, and bacillary angiomatosis, cerebritis, or peliosis hepatis in the immunocompromised host.[4-6] Louseborne B. quintana causes trench fever, aseptic meningitis, bacteremia, endocarditis, or bacillary angiomatosis.[4,7-9] Recently isolated cases of infection with B. elizabethae,[10] B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis,[11] and B. washoensis[12] suggest that the spectrum of Bartonella infections may continue to expand.
Many mammals, including numerous species of rodents, are commensally infected with Bartonella species in North America.[12-15] We sought serologic evidence for human bartonellae infection in serious febrile illnesses in the Four Corners region, using diverse Bartonella antigens in an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA).[13] We report 7 years' cumulative experience in diagnostic referrals, including 5 cases showing seroconversion, and 4 cases with a single high titer, to Bartonella antigens derived from strains isolated from rodents, particularly the white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula) captured in New Mexico.
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Ashlee W. Duncan,* Ricardo G. Maggi,* and Edward B. Breitschwerdt* Comments to Author *North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Suggested citation for this article
Abstract Bartonella species, transmitted by arthropods or animal bites and scratches, are emerging pathogens in human and veterinary medicine. PCR and DNA sequencing were used to test oral swabs collected from dogs. Results indicated the presence of 4 Bartonella species: B. bovis, B. henselae, B. quintana, and B. vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii.
Bartonella species are being recognized as increasingly important bacterial pathogens in veterinary and human medicine. These organisms can be transmitted by an arthropod vector or alternatively by animal scratches or bites (1). Among the 11 species or subspecies known or suspected to be pathogenic in humans, 8 have been detected in or isolated from pet dogs or cats, thereby highlighting the zoonotic potential of these bacteria (2). In general, cats are implicated in the transmission of Bartonella henselae, typically resulting in cat-scratch disease; however, there have also been sporadic reports of Bartonella transmission by dogs (3-5). When B. henselae prevalence was evaluated in a population of 52 dogs, 4 dogs were seroreactive at reciprocal titers of 64 or 128, and Bartonella-positive PCR results were found in 3 of 52 blood samples, 5 of 9 oral swabs, and 5 of 9 nail clippings (5). Based on these reports and the recent recognition of B. henselae and B. vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii bacteremia in veterinarians and veterinary technicians who experience frequent cat and dog scratches and bites (6), we speculated that Bartonella species may be present in the saliva of dogs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Bartonella DNA could be detected in oral swabs collected from dogs. The Study
As part of an ongoing study from November 2004 to December 2006 to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia infections in healthy golden retrievers and golden retrievers with lymphoma, a buccal swab was collected using a sterile cotton applicator. The swab was placed against the inside surface of the dog's cheek. Saliva and tissue were collected by rolling the swab firmly against the cheek. Subsequently, the swab was placed into a sterile, no additive, Vacutainer (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) serum tube and allowed to air dry for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature before the tube was recapped.
Cells on the air-dried swab were resuspended in 500 μL of QuickExtract DNA Extraction Solution (EPICENTRE Biotechnologies, Madison, WI, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Total DNA was isolated using 200 μL of the QuickExtract resuspension, which was extracted through a QIAamp DNA Blood Mini-Kit (QIAGEN, Inc., Valencia, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Similarly, total DNA was extracted from 200 μL of EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini-Kit.
Oral swabs and blood samples (n = 44 each) were screened for the presence of Bartonella by 2 previously described PCR methods (7). The first PCR targeted a fragment of the 16S-23S intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region; samples that were PCR positive for Bartonella DNA by the ITS primers were subsequently analyzed by a second PCR targeting the heme-binding protein gene, Pap31. Positive and negative controls were used in all processing steps, including DNA extraction. PCR amplicons were sequenced to identify species (Davis Sequencing, Davis, CA, USA). Sequence analysis and alignment with GenBank sequences were performed (AlignX, Vector NTI Suite 6.0, InforMax, Inc., Frederick, MD, USA). Additionally, serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies to B. henselae and B. vinsonii (berkhoffii) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), as described previously (8). Reciprocal titers >64 were considered seroreactive.
Of the 44 dogs surveyed, oral swabs collected from 5 (11.4%) dogs were PCR-positive for Bartonella DNA. Sequencing indicated that 5 different Bartonella species or subtypes were present: B. bovis, B. henselae, B. quintana, and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii types I and II (Table). PCR amplification and sequencing of blood samples from these 5 dogs showed B. henselae and B. vinsonii (berkhoffii) DNA in 2 dogs (Table). None of these 5 dogs was seroreactive to B. henselae or B. vinsonii (berkhoffii) antigens. Contamination was not detected in any of the negative control samples at any stage of processing or at any time during the study. As this work was part of an ongoing study of golden retrievers with and without lymphoma, dogs 1 and 2 had lymphoma; the remaining 3 dogs were clinically healthy (Table). Conclusions
These results demonstrate the presence of Bartonella DNA in oral swabs obtained from dogs. Notably, 3 Bartonella species and 2 B. vinsonii (berkhoffii) types were found in dog saliva. B. bovis, formerly referred to as B. weissii, was initially isolated from the blood of cats (9). Subsequently, this organism was isolated from the blood of cows in the United States, Europe, and Africa (10-12). To our knowledge, this is only the second known report of the detection of B. bovis DNA in a sample obtained from a dog (13). All 5 dogs in this study lacked serologic evidence of Bartonella infection, a finding which has been previously reported in bacteremic dogs and humans (6,13,14).
Previous studies have shown that targeting multiple Bartonella genes provides molecular evidence of coinfection with more than 1 Bartonella species or strain type (6,7,13). In the current work, the inability to confirm the ITS PCR results with a second PCR target has been previously reported by our laboratory (6,13,14) and likely reflects differences in PCR sensitivity, interference or inhibition of the PCR reaction by oral bacteria that are present in greater numbers than the Bartonella, or the lack of a known heme-binding protein gene in various Bartonella species, such as B. bovis. The limit of detection (LOD) of Bartonella ITS PCR is 2 copies/reaction, while the LOD of Pap31 assay is 10 copies/reaction. Further, although B. henselae has a detectable Pap31 protein (Table), several researchers in our laboratory have successfully isolated B. henselae strains that lack a PCR-detectable heme-binding protein (unpub. data). Upon recognition of the discordance between ITS and Pap31, additional genes such as 16S, gltA, and rpoB were targeted; however, these analyses were negative for Bartonella and resulted in nonspecific bacterial amplification. Because inhibition of ITS PCR was suspected due the presence of other oral bacteria, Bartonella-negative DNA extracts from oral swabs were spiked with B. henselae DNA at 1.5, 2.5, 5, and 10 (0.002 pg/μL) copies/reaction. Inhibition was detected at up to 5 copies/reaction, while the 10 copies/reaction sample was consistently amplified by the ITS primers.
These data, in conjunction with previous case reports (3-5), suggest that potentially viable Bartonella organisms may be transmitted to humans after a dog bite. The detection of DNA by PCR does not necessarily indicate the viability of Bartonella organisms. However, due to the extremely slow growth characteristics of Bartonella spp., isolation from the oral cavity does not seem feasible, because of competition with numerous other rapidly growing oral bacterial species. Recently, Bartonella DNA has been amplified from peripheral lymph nodes of healthy dogs (14). B. henselae was also amplified from salivary gland tissues from a dog with saladenitis (15). There are several plausible routes by which a Bartonella sp. could gain entry to the oral cavity. Future studies should determine if the tonsilar lymphoid tissues, salivary glands, or periodontal, gingival, or other oral tissues can serve as sources of Bartonella spp. contamination of canine saliva. As Bartonella infection may represent an occupational risk for veterinary professionals and others with extensive animal contact (6), additional studies should address the risk of transmission from dogs to humans following bite wounds. Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the assistance of the veterinarians who provided samples and the owners who allowed participation of their dogs in this study.
This research was funded in part by the American Kennel Club-Canine Health Foundation, Bayer Animal Health, and the State of North Carolina.
Dr Duncan recently completed her PhD in epidemiology and biotechnology in the Intracellular Pathogens Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine-North Carolina State University. Her primary research interests include Bartonella species in dogs and humans.
References
1. Boulouis HJ, Chang CC, Henn JB, Kasten RW, Chomel BB. Factors associated with the rapid emergence of zoonotic Bartonella infections. Vet Res. 2005;36:383-410. 2. Chomel BB, Boulouis HJ, Maruyama S, Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonella spp. in pets and effect on human health. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:389-94. 3. Kerkhoff FT, Ossewaarde JM, de Loos WS, Rothova A. Presumed ocular bartonellosis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1999;83:270-5. 4. Keret D, Giladi M, Kletter Y, Wientroub S. Cat-scratch disease osteomyelitis from a dog scratch. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998;80:766-7. 5. Tsukahara M, Tsuneoka H, Iino H, Ohno K, Murano I. Bartonella henselae infection from a dog. Lancet. 1998;352:1682. 6. Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG, Duncan AW, Nicholson WL, Hegarty BC, Woods CW. Bartonella species in blood of immunocompetent persons with animal and arthropod contact. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:938-41. 7. Diniz PPVP, Maggi RG, Schwartz DS, Cadenas MB, Bradley JM, Hegarty BC, et al. Canine bartonellosis: serological and molecular prevalence in Brazil and evidence of co-infection with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii. Vet Res. 2007;38:697-710. 8. Solano-Gallego L, Bradley J, Hegarty B, Sigmon B, Breitschwerdt E. Bartonella henselae IgG antibodies are prevalent in dogs from southeastern USA. Vet Res. 2004;35:585-95. 9. Regnery R, Marano N, Jameson P, Marston E, Jones D, Handley S, et al. A fourth Bartonella species, B. weissii species nova, isolated from domestic cats. In: Abstracts of the 15th Meeting of the American Society for Rickettsiology; Captiva Island, Florida; 2000 April 30-May 3; Abstract 4. American Society for Rickettsiology; 2000. 10. Breitschwerdt EB, Sontakke S, Cannedy A, Hancock SI, Bradley JM. Infection with Bartonella weissii and detection of Nanobacterium antigens in a North Carolina beef herd. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39:879-82. 11. Bermond D, Boulouis HJ, Heller R, Van Laere G, Monteil H, Chomel BB, et al. Bartonella bovis sp. nov. and Bartonella capreoli sp. nov., isolated from European ruminants. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2002;52:383-90. 12. Raoult D, La Scola B, Kelly PJ, Davoust B, Gomez J. Bartonella bovis in cattle in Africa. Vet Microbiol. 2005;105:155-6. 13. Duncan AW, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB. A combined approach for the enhanced detection and isolation of Bartonella species in dog blood samples: pre-enrichment liquid culture followed by PCR and subculture onto agar plates. J Microbiol Methods. 2007;69:273-81. 14. Duncan AW, Birkenheuer AJ, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonella DNA detected in the blood and lymph nodes of healthy dogs. In: Abstracts of the 20th Meeting of the American Society for Rickettsiology; Pacific Grove, California; 2006 Sept 2-7; Abstract 110. American Society for Rickettsiology; 2006. 15. Saunders GK, Monroe WE. Systemic granulomatous disease and sialometaplasia in a dog with Bartonella infection. Vet Pathol. 2006;43:391-2.
Table
Table. PCR, DNA sequencing, and serologic results for the 5 dogs positive for Bartonella DNA in oral swabs Suggested Citation for this Article
Duncan AW, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonella DNA in dog saliva. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2007 Dec [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/13/12/1948.htmPosts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute, Fiocruz.
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a self limited condition characterized by fever, lymph node enlargement and less often eye involvement. Central nervous system involvement by Bartonella henselae infection is possibly an important cause of morbidity; its role as an agent of aseptic meningitis is unknown. We report a case of a 40 years-old man with CSD accompanied by aseptic meningitis and neuroretinitis. Serum indirect immmunofluorescence (IFI) assays for B. henselae were positive and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed mononuclear pleocytosis and increased level of protein. Serological tests for other etiologies were negative. The patient responded well to antibiotic therapy with oral doxycicline plus rifampin and in the 12th day of hospitalization evolved to total regression of the headache and partial regression of the visual loss. Clinicians should consider CSD as a differential diagnosis when assessing previously healthy patients with aseptic meningitis associated with regional lymphadenopathy and epidemiological history of feline contact.
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The louse-borne human pathogen Bartonella quintana is a genomic derivative of the zoonotic agent Bartonella henselae.
Alsmark CM, Frank AC, Karlberg EO, Legault BA, Ardell DH, Canb�ck B, Eriksson AS, N�slund AK, Handley SA, Huvet M, La Scola B, Holmberg M, Andersson SG.
Department of Molecular Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, and Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
We present the complete genomes of two human pathogens, Bartonella quintana (1,581,384 bp) and Bartonella henselae (1,931,047 bp). The two pathogens maintain several similarities in being transmitted by insect vectors, using mammalian reservoirs, infecting similar cell types (endothelial cells and erythrocytes) and causing vasculoproliferative changes in immunocompromised hosts. A primary difference between the two pathogens is their reservoir ecology. Whereas B. quintana is a specialist, using only the human as a reservoir, B. henselae is more promiscuous and is frequently isolated from both cats and humans. Genome comparison elucidated a high degree of overall similarity with major differences being B. henselae specific genomic islands coding for filamentous hemagglutinin, and evidence of extensive genome reduction in B. quintana, reminiscent of that found in Rickettsia prowazekii. Both genomes are reduced versions of chromosome I from the highly related pathogen Brucella melitensis. Flanked by two rRNA operons is a segment with similarity to genes located on chromosome II of B. melitensis, suggesting that it was acquired by integration of megareplicon DNA in a common ancestor of the two Bartonella species. Comparisons of the vector-host ecology of these organisms suggest that the utilization of host-restricted vectors is associated with accelerated rates of genome degradation and may explain why human pathogens transmitted by specialist vectors are outnumbered by zoonotic agents, which use vectors of broad host ranges.
PMID: 15210978 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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There is evidence in this thread. Have a look at some of the links. There are plenty of pictures of Bart rashes. They are also spoken about in some of the medical articles posted above, again in this thread.
Fuzzy
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Macular hole following Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis.Donnio A, Jean-Charles A, Merle H. Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Fort de France, Hopital Pierre Zobda-Quitman, Fort de France Cedex, Martinique - France (French West Indies).
PURPOSE. To report a case of macular hole secondary to Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis. METHODS. Observational case report. An 11 year-old boy presented urgently with a decrease of visual acuity in the left eye. Posterior segment examination revealed neuroretinitis attributed to Bartonella henselae. Treatment was initiated, resulting in the disappearance of symptoms. RESULTS. Follow-up consultations 7 months later showed a further decline in visual acuity secondary to a macular hole. CONCLUSIONS. Cat scratch disease is a rare pathology and is most often considered benign. Serious complications can nonetheless occur, such as neuroretinitis, choroidal nodules, and disciform keratitis. The authors report a case of sequellar macular hole. They found only one previous report of macular hole caused by B henselae, which, contrary to their case, appeared rapidly 12 days after presentation.
PMID: 18465733 [PubMed - in process]
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Volume 14, Number 7-July 2008 Letter Bartonella quintana and Coxiella burnetii as Causes of Endocarditis, India
Nandhakumar Balakrishnan,* Thangam Menon,* Pierre-Edouard Fournier,� and Didier Raoult�
*University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India; and �Universite de la Mediterranee, Marseille, France
Suggested citation for this article
To the Editor: In industrialized countries, blood culture is negative for 2.5%-31% of infectious endocarditis cases (1). In developing countries such as South Africa (2), Algeria (3), and Pakistan (4), culture is negative for 48% to 56%. Negative cultures delay diagnosis and treatment, which profoundly affects clinical outcome. Negative blood cultures commonly result from previous administration of antimicrobial drugs, right-sided endocarditis, or fastidious or noncultivable pathogens (1). Our aim was to identify fastidious agents of blood culture-negative endocarditis by serology. Because of recent attention to zoonotic microorganisms as agents of this condition in developing countries (1), we investigated the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii,Bartonella spp., and Brucella melitensis among endocarditis patients in India.
We cultured blood from 111 patients admitted to the Government General Hospital, Chennai, India, from August 2005 through December 2006, with a diagnosis of infectious endocarditis according to the Duke criteria (5).
Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Three blood samples from each patient, collected at hourly intervals, were inoculated into brain-heart infusion broth supplemented with 0.04% sodium polyanethol sulfonate (HiMedia, Mumbai, India). Cultures were incubated at 37�C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere for 14 days and checked each day for turbidity. Subcultures were made on 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar at 37�C at 24 hours, 48 hours, and when culture broth appeared turbid.
Blood cultures were negative for 80 (72%) of the 111 patients. Serum from 63 patients was available for serologic testing. Of these patients, 30 were male and 33 were female; age range was 5-65 years and mean age was 25.5 years.
Endocarditis involved the native valve for 60 (95.23%) and a prosthetic valve for 3 (4.76%). The most frequent predisposing factor was rheumatic heart disease, found in 38 (60.31%).
Of the 60 with native valve endocarditis, the involved valve was mitral for most (36, 60.0%), followed by aortic (8, 13.33%), tricuspid (7, 11.66%), and pulmonary (1, 1.66%); 8 (13.33%) had both valvular and nonvalvular endocarditis. Of the 3 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis, the involved valve was mitral for 2 and aortic for 1.
Serum samples were screened for Bartonella spp. and C. burnetii by microimmunofluorescence (6,7). A diagnosis of endocarditis was based on an immunoglobulin (Ig) G titer >800 to phase I C. burnetii; this titer has a positive predictive value of 98% (6). A diagnosis of Bartonella infection was based on the combination of a positive microimmunofluorescence titer (IgG to B. quintana or B. henselae >200) and a Western blot profile consistent with endocarditis (Cool.
Identification of the causative species was obtained by Western blot after cross-adsorption with either B. henselae or B. quintana antigens (Cool. Antibodies to B. melitensis were detected by agglutination by using the Rose Bengal and Brucella Wright tests (both from BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA). Of the 63 patients, 9 had a positive antibody response against a tested antigen (Table): 1 to phase I C. burnetii and 8 to Bartonella spp. (IgG >200).
Of these, 7 had a 1-fold dilution higher titer to B. quintana than to B. henselae, including 1 with a low-level cross-reaction with C. burnetii, and 1 had identical titers to both. For all 8 patients, Western blot results were consistent with Bartonella endocarditis. For 7, cross-adsorption identified B. quintana as the causative species; for the other, the infecting Bartonella species remained undetermined because adsorption with B. quintana and B. henselae antigens removed all antibodies. Serologic results for B. melitensis were negative for all patients.
B. quintana is mostly associated with human body lice but has also been found in fleas (9). The predisposing factors for B. quintana endocarditis are homelessness, alcoholism, and exposure to body lice (10).
For our patients, the common predisposing factors were poor hygiene and low socioeconomic status, which may expose them to ectoparasites including lice and fleas. In contrast with previous study findings, B. quintana infectious endocarditis developed on preexisting valvular lesions in all patients (10). This finding may reflect a different clinical evolution than in Europe, where studies have suggested that B. quintana infectious endocarditis followed chronic bacteremia in patients who did not have previous valvular defects (10).
In summary, prevalence of negative blood culture among patients with infectious endocarditis was high (72%). The most commonly associated risk factor was rheumatic heart disease (Table). C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. were responsible for 8% of all infectious endocarditis cases and 14% of blood culture-negative cases. No case of infectious endocarditis caused by B. melitensis was identified.
Our preliminary study suggests that zoonotic agents, especially Bartonella spp., are prevalent causative organisms of blood culture-negative endocarditis in India. We recommend serologic screening for antibodies to zoonotic microorganisms as diagnostic tools for this disease in India.
References Brouqui P, Raoult D. New insight into the diagnosis of fastidious bacterial endocarditis. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2006;47:1-13. PubMed DOI Koegelenberg CF, Doubell AF, Orth H, Reuter H. Infective endocarditis in the Western Cape Province of South Africa: a three-year prospective study. QJM. 2003;96:217-25. PubMed DOI Benslimani A, Fenollar F, Lepidi H, Raoult D. Bacterial zoonoses and infective endocarditis, Algeria. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:216-24. Tariq M, Alam M, Munir G, Khan MA, Smego RA Jr. Infective endocarditis: a five-year experience at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Int J Infect Dis. 2004;8:163-70. PubMed DOI Li JS, Sexton DJ, Mick N, Nettles R, Fowler VG Jr, Ryan T, et al. Proposed modifications to the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;30:633-8. PubMed DOI Dupont HT, Thirion X, Raoult D. Q fever serology: cutoff determination for microimmunofluorescence. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1994;1:189-96. Fournier PE, Mainardi JL, Raoult D. Value of microimmunofluorescence for diagnosis and follow-up of Bartonella endocarditis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2002;9:795-801. PubMed DOI Houpikian P, Raoult D. Western immunoblotting for Bartonella endocarditis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003;10:95-102. PubMed DOI Marie JL, Fournier PE, Rolain JM, Briolant S, Davoust B, Raoult D. Molecular detection of Bartonella quintana, B. elizabethae, B. koehlerae, B. doshiae, B. taylorii, and Rickettsia felis in rodent fleas collected in Kabul, Afghanistan. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006;74:436-9. Fournier PE, Lelievre H, Eykyn SJ, Mainardi JL, Marrie TJ, Bruneel F, et al. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of Bartonella quintana and Bartonella henselae endocarditis: a study of 48 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 2001;80:245-51. PubMed DOI Table Table. Clinical findings and causative agent for 9 patients with blood culture-negative endocarditis, India, August 2005-December 2006
Suggested Citation for this Article Balakrishnan N, Menon T, Fournier P-E, Raoult D. Bartonella quintana and Coxiella burnetii as causes of endocarditis, India [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2008 Jul [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/14/7/1168.htm DOI: 10.3201/eid1407.071374
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Bartonella alsatica sp. nov., a new Bartonella species isolated from the blood of wild rabbits.
Heller R, Kubina M, Mariet P, Riegel P, Delacour G, Dehio C, Lamarque F, Kasten R, Boulouis HJ, Monteil H, Chomel B, Pi�mont Y. Institut de Bact�riologie de la Facult� de M�decine, Universit� Louis-Pasteur, H�pitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France. [email protected]
Bartonella species are considered as emerging human pathogens, with at least six different species pathogenic or possibly pathogenic for humans. However, little is known about Bartonella distribution, species polymorphism and pathogenicity in mammalian species. The objective of this work was to determine the presence, the frequency and the distribution of Bartonella species in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) caught in warrens in Alsace, France. Humans may come into contact with wild rabbits when hunting, especially when they are picked up with bare hands and at time of evisceration. Of 30 blood samples collected and cultured from wild rabbits, nine (30%) were positive for organisms morphologically similar to Bartonella spp. The bacteria appeared as small, fastidious, aerobic, oxidase-negative, Gram-negative rods which could be localized within erythrocytes. Their biochemical properties were similar to those of the genus Bartonella. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene obtained from the rabbit isolates was highly related to the sequences of the different Bartonella species (97.8-99.3% similarity). The high DNA hybridization rate (81-90% similarity) between the three strains isolated from rabbit blood confirmed that they belong to the same bacterial species. Hybridization values, obtained with the nuclease-TCA method, when testing type strains of recognized Bartonella species (9-14% similarity), support the creation of a new species for the rabbit isolates. The name Bartonella alsatica is proposed for these strains isolated from the blood of wild rabbits. The type strain is IBS 382T (= CIP 105477T).
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Bartonella spp. DNA Associated with Biting Flies from California
Crystal Y. Chung,* Rickie W. Kasten,* Sandra M. Paff,* Brian A. Van Horn,* Muriel Vayssier-Taussat,� Henri-Jean Boulouis,� and Bruno B. Chomel*Comments *University of California, Davis, California, USA; and �Unit� Mixte de Recherche, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
Suggested citation for this article: Chung CY, Kasten RW, Paff SM, Van Horn BA, Vayssier-Taussat M, Boulouis H-J, et al. Bartonella spp. DNA associated with biting flies from California. Emerg Infect Dis. [serial online] 2004 Jul [date cited]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no7/03-0896.htm
Bartonella DNA was investigated in 104 horn flies (Haematobia spp.), 60 stable flies (Stomoxys spp.), 11 deer flies (Chrysops spp.), and 11 horse flies (Tabanus spp.) collected on cattle in California. Partial sequencing indicated B. bovis DNA in the horn fly pool and B. henselae type M DNA in one stable fly.
Bartonella spp. are vector-borne bacteria associated with numerous emerging infections in humans and animals (1). Four Bartonella species have been isolated from wild and domestic ruminants. B. schoenbuchensis and B. capreoli were recovered from wild roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (2,3) in Europe, whereas B. bovis (formerly B. weissii) was recovered from domestic cattle in the United States and Europe (3-5). Strains similar to B. bovis and B. capreoli were also isolated from mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus elaphus) from California (3,4). Recently, B. chomelii was recovered from bacteremic cows in France (6). A high prevalence of infection with various Bartonella species has been reported in domestic and wild ruminants in North America and Europe (2-4). Of the herds investigated in California, 95% of beef cattle and 17% of dairy cattle were bacteremic for B. bovis and 90% of the mule deer were bacteremic for Bartonella spp. (4). The main vector of these ruminant-infecting Bartonella spp. has not been identified.
The role of ticks as potential vectors for Bartonella in cattle was investigated (7,8). In Europe, >70% of 121 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from roe deer had 16S rRNA gene sequences for Bartonella or other closely related species (7). In California, Bartonella DNA was detected in approximately 19% of 151 questing adult I. pacificus ticks (8), but the direct role of ticks in Bartonella transmission among ruminants has never been established. In a search for an efficient Bartonella vector, which could explain such high prevalence of infection in wild and domestic ruminants, we tested biting flies for Bartonella spp. DNA to establish the potential role of biting flies as vectors of Bartonella in cattle.
. . . .
Conclusions
This identification of Bartonella DNA is the first associated with horn and stable flies and the first identification of B. henselae from a biting fly. It is also the first report of identification of Bartonella DNA from flies from North America. This finding demonstrates, as for ticks, that Bartonella DNA is present in various biting insects.
We found a very low percentage of Bartonella DNA-positive flies, in contrast to the very high prevalence (57 [88%] of 65 observed in Hippoboscidae adult flies (Lipoptena cervi and Hippobosca equina) collected from domestic cattle and wild roe deer in France (H.J. Boulouis, pers. comm.).
This low prevalence may be related to the fact that different fly species were tested but more likely could be associated with a low level of Bartonella bacteremia in our herds. In a previous study, only 17% of cows in a dairy herd were bacteremic (4), and prevalence was even lower in another dairy herd from Tulare, in the central valley of California (B.B. Chomel et al., unpub. data). A follow-up for this study would be to collect blood from herds at the University of California, Davis, and establish the status of Bartonella bacteremia.
Future research should include collecting flies in different locations and herds in which high levels of bacteremia were previously detected. Inhibitory factors were unlikely to be associated with such a low prevalence because spiked controls were systematically detected.
Identification of B. henselae DNA in a stable fly indicates the wide range of blood-sucking arthropods that can harbor this human pathogen. The partial gltA sequence was identical to that for B. henselae type Marseille, the most common type found in cats and humans in California (11). Fleas have been shown to be an efficient vector of B. henselae (12-14).
More recently, B. henselae DNA was identified in adult questing I. pacificus ticks from California and from I. ricinus ticks collected on humans in Italy (8,15). The role of ticks as potential vectors of B. henselae in humans has also been suggested (16-18).
Since Bartonella are likely to be present in biting flies, investigating the potential of biting flies as either mechanical or biologic vectors of Bartonella in cattle and possibly humans should be pursued.
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quote:Originally posted by FuzzySlippers: Hi Stephen,
There is evidence in this thread. Have a look at some of the links. There are plenty of pictures of Bart rashes. They are also spoken about in some of the medical articles posted above, again in this thread.
Fuzzy
How does anyone know the stretch marks are vein patterns are bartonella? I haven't been able to find any studies. Not even a loose correlation between those who test positive for Bartonella and those who have stretch marks - and that's not evidence.
-------------------- Lingering chronic symptoms: Fatigue, Derealization, Brain fog. Monthly fever with flu-like symptoms that last for weeks. Lyme WB Bands Positive: 31, 41, 58, 66 HHV6, EBV, CMV, & Mycoplasma IGG positive. Chronically Low CD4 count. Posts: 106 | From Texas | Registered: Apr 2008
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Try searching PubMed database for articles. I don't know what kind of proof you're looking for. If you require summaries of pathology testing done on skin samples, for example, which would correlate with Bartonellosis -- have you tried searching the Dermatological medical articles?
Other than the published medical articles I've posted here, I'm afraid I can't offer more. I'm just not feeling well enough to look further right now.
I came across this link to a slide show from Dr. B.
Just as many of the researchers whose articles are posted in this thread refer to skin rashes, Dr. B also speaks of the "stretch mark" rashes in the above link. Perhaps you can contact him or one of the other ILADS docs to try and get the information you are requiring.
Just my own personal experience . . . I've had three separate LLMD's diagnose me with Bart through blood testing and correlating clinical examination -- skin rashes, including the long stretch mark rashes shown in this thread.
I hope you find what you need.
Fuzzy
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
My processing and vision skills are not doing well this am.
I need help finding the article about bartonella in proverty like settings.
I see a doctor today for workmen's comp.
I worked at a low level prison when I got sick.
We had 2 yards shut down after I got sick due to the feral cats and rashes and the men were treated with abx.
I will be leaving at 10:00 am today and would like to take the article with me but can't seem to find it.
WE had several teachers come down sick. One was dx with fibro brought on by stress. The other who came down sick 2 weeks before I did was dx with valley fever and then cfs.
There were others too but can't recall what they were dx with.
WE all came down sick in SEpt/oct 2001
Thanks for your help.
My email address is [email protected]Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Thanks to whoever posted the pics too. First time I learned why I had stretch marks on my stomach when I first came down sick.
I thought at the time it was very strange. They reminded me of when I was pregnant, but my baby days were over.
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
StephenC yes there is proof...Buy his book and you will see.Run the test that he mentioned on the book.
Researcher Links 'Silent Epidemic' to Hidden Pathogen December 4th, 2008 in General Science / Biology
(PhysOrg.com) -- A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that certain tick-borne bacteria may be responsible for some chronic and debilitating neurological illnesses in humans, particularly among people with substantial animal contact or arthropod exposure.
Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, professor of internal medicine at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine and adjunct professor of medicine at Duke University, studied the bacteria Bartonella to determine how long these bacteria induce active infection in humans. The most commonly known Bartonella-related illness is cat scratch disease, caused by B. henselae, a strain of Bartonella that can be carried in a cat's blood for months to years.
Cat scratch disease was thought to be a self-limiting, or "one-time" infection; however, Breitschwerdt's previous work discovered cases of children and adults with chronic Bartonella infections - from strains of the bacteria that are found in cats (B. henselae) and dogs (B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii).
In a study published in the September volume of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Breitschwerdt and colleagues from the Duke University Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta were able to detect one or more strains of Bartonella in blood samples from six patients suffering from a broad spectrum of neurological and neurocognitive abnormalities, including chronic migraines, seizures, memory loss, disorientation and weakness.
All of the patients in the study had both frequent tick exposure and significant animal exposure - some were veterinarians, others had grown up on farms or had occupations that kept them outdoors - and all of them suffered from chronic, debilitating neurological problems.
The patients were treated with antibiotics, and three of them saw marked improvement. In the other cases, improvements were minimal or short-term.
Breitschwerdt believes that his research offers hope - perhaps the identification of a specific infectious cause of chronic neurological disease and another potential avenue of treatment - for what could be a significant segment of the population.
"Bartonella has been described by some scientists as a 'stealth pathogen,'" he says. "Our research could lead to the elimination of what may be a silent and currently unrecognized epidemic among humans."
Provided by North Carolina State University
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