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Post by LymeEnigma on May 28, 2008 11:49:06 GMT -8
Bartonella infections: diagnostic and management issues. Maurin M, Raoult D. Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UPRES A 6020, Université de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France. Bartonella species are emerging pathogens. Renewed interest in this group of bacteria has been highlighted by the recent description of new species, which are pathogenic for humans (Bartonella elizabethae and Bartonella clarridgeae), and their association with an increasing number of clinical manifestations, the more prevalent being cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, and culture-negative endocarditis. PMID: 17033388 [PubMed] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17033388?ordinalpos=9&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum |
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Post by LymeEnigma on May 28, 2008 11:50:07 GMT -8
BARTONELLOSIS New and Old Ciro Maguiña MDa and Eduardo Gotuzzo MD, FACPa, b “Alexander von Humboldt” Institute of Tropical Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (CM, EG) Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Nacional “Cayetano Heredia” (EG), Lima, Perú Available online 27 June 2005. Abstract: The number of species that comprise the family Bartonellaceae, genus Bartonella has recently increased from only one, Bartonella bacilliformis, to 14 species. At least five of these, B. bacilliformis, B. henselae, B. quintana, B. elizabethae and B. clarridgeae, have been associated with different diseases and syndromes in humans; the rapidly growing number of human pathogens has led several investigators to regard bartonellosis and other syndromes associated with the Bartonella species as important emerging infectious diseases.4, 12, 38 and 45 Recently published nucleotide sequences of the 16S RNA showed that Bartonella organisms belonged to the Alpha 2 subgroup of bacteria, Protobacterieae class, which also includes Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Brucella, Afipia, and Agrobacterium tumifacieus45; however, because of homology in the sequence of the 16S RNA between B. bacilliformis and the former Rochalimaea, as well as the recognition of DNA hybrids and similarities in the guanine and cytosine contents, Bartonella and the former Rochalimaea rickettsii are classified together in the family Bartonellaceae. The family includes four new species: henselae, quintana, elizabethae, and vinsonii.18 and 53 Since 1995, five Grahamella species (talpae, grahamii, taylori, peromyscii, and doshiae) have been classified as new Bartonella species because of similar molecular structure.16 Also, another species, Bartonella clarridgeae, was described in 1995 and was found to be a human pathogen.46 Bartonella organisms are widely dispersed in nature. Only B. bacilliformis and B. clarridgeae are flagellated species. Bartonella are fastidious bacteria that will grow in blood-enriched agar; however, it is considered to be a facultative intracellular pathogen.63 www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B75J9-4GGXMHX-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=64534cfacdc3eba99b6e2df0feff23db |
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Post by LymeEnigma on May 28, 2008 11:55:30 GMT -8
Current knowledge of Bartonella species M. Maurin, R. Birtles and D. Raoult Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UPRESA 6020, Université de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France Abstract Bartonella species are now considered emerging pathogens. Of the 11 currently recognized species, four have been implicated in human disease, although only two have been encountered in Europe. Bartonella quintana infections are now being diagnosed among the urban homeless and deprived, manifesting as trench fever, and Bartonella henselae has been shown to be the causative agent of cat scratch disease. Both species also cause a variety of HIV-associated infections, including bacillary angiomatosis. However, perhaps the most significant presentation of bartonellae infection is culture-negative endocarditis. The epidemiologies of Bartonella infections are poorly understood; most Bartonella henselae infections are probably acquired from infected cats, either directly by contact with a cat or indirectly via fleas. No animal reservoir has been implicated for Bartonella quintana; however, infection can be transmitted via the human body louse. Diagnosis of Bartonella infections can be made using histological or microbiological methods. The demonstration of specific antibodies may be useful in some instances, although certainly not in all. Cultivation of Bartonella is difficult, as the bacteria are extremely fastidious. Polymerase chain reaction-based or immunological methods for the detection of bartonellae in infected tissues have proven useful. Clinical relapse is often associated with Bartonella infections despite a wide range of prescribed regimens. Only aminoglycosides display in vitro bactericidal activity against intracellular Bartonella species; therefore, they are recommended for treatment of Bartonella infections. www.springerlink.com/content/h346r43507717u58/ |
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Post by LymeEnigma on May 28, 2008 11:57:17 GMT -8
Feline bartonellosis and cat scratch disease. Breitschwerdt EB. College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Dipl. ACVIM, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States. Bartonella species are important emerging zoonotic pathogens. Transmission of these organisms in nature may be much more complex than is currently appreciated. Cats can be infected with five Bartonella species, including, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeae, Bartonella bovis, Bartonella koehlerae and Bartonella quintana. In addition to cats, numerous domestic and wild animals, including bovine, canine, human, and rodent species can serve as chronically infected reservoir hosts for various intra-erythrocytic Bartonella species. In addition, an increasing number of arthropod vectors, including biting flies, fleas, keds, lice, sandflys and potentially ticks have been implicated in the transmission of various Bartonella species to animals or human beings. In the reservoir host, Bartonella species cause chronic intra-erythrocytic and vascular endothelial infections, with a relapsing bacteremia documented in experimentally infected cats. Although the immunopathology induced by Bartonella infection requires additional study, the organisms can localize to the heart valve (endocarditis), cause granulomatous inflammation in lymph nodes, liver or spleen, induce central nervous system dysfunction with or without cerebrospinal fluid changes, and may contribute to inflammatory polyarthritis. Hematological abnormalities are infrequent, but thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, neutropenia, and eosinophilia have been reported in B. henselae-infected cats. Serology, PCR and culture can be used to support a diagnosis of feline bartonellosis, however, due to the high rate of sub-clinical infections among various cat populations, documenting causation in an individual cat is difficult, if not impossible. Response to treatment can be used in conjunction with serology or organism isolation to support a clinical diagnosis of feline bartonellosis. As fleas are involved in the transmission among cats, the use of acaracide products to eliminate fleas from the environment is of critical importance to decrease the risk of B. henselae transmission among cats and to humans. PMID: 18295347 [PubMed - in process] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18295347?dopt=Abstract |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Jun 1, 2008 11:13:41 GMT -8
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Post by LymeEnigma on Jun 14, 2008 10:23:05 GMT -8
J Forensic Sci. 2002 May;47(3):640-4.Links Fatal meningitis and encephalitis due to Bartonella henselae bacteria. Gerber JE, Johnson JE, Scott MA, Madhusudhan KT. Forensic Medical, Nashville, TN 37216, USA. Bacterial infection due to Bartonella henselae commonly develops in children and young adults following cat/dog contacts and/or cat/dog scratches. Regional lymphadenopathy is its most common clinical expression. However, encephalitis and Parinaud's syndrome (oculoglandular syndrome) have also been reported as has systemic illness. A review of the international literature in all languages revealed no fatal complications in immunocompetent hosts. A four-year-old white child with no underlying illness began to have seizure-like activity. She was taken to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to a medical center. The child was treated aggressively for seizures and fever of unknown origin. However, her condition rapidly declined and she died without a specific diagnosis. At autopsy there was marked cerebral edema with no gross evidence of acute meningitis. Microscopic exams revealed multiple granulomatous lesions as well as a meningitis and encephalitis. A variety of cultures and stains were negative for acid fast and fungal organisms. Warthin-Starry stains of involved tissue including brain and liver revealed pleomorphic rod shaped bacilli consistent with Barronella henselae. Analysis of brain tissue with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot for the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was definitive for DNA of Bartonella henselae bacteria. PMID: 12051353 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12051353?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Jun 14, 2008 10:25:28 GMT -8
Pathology of Bartonella Endocarditis in Six Dogs P. A. Pesavento, B. B. Chomel, R. W. Kasten, K. A. McDonald and F. C. Mohr Abstract In a 5-year retrospective study of dogs presenting to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis, there were 31 histologic diagnoses of valvular endocarditis. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of embedded valvular tissue, Bartonella organisms were exclusively associated with 6 out of 31 cases (19%). Confirmed Bartonella cases involved the aortic valve alone (five out of six) or in combination with the mitral valve (one of six). Microscopic features of Bartonella endocarditis were compared with valves from non-Bartonella endocarditis and with valvular change unrelated to infectious agents (endocardiosis). Features of Bartonella endocarditis included a combination of fibrosis, mineralization, endothelial proliferation, and neovascularization with variable inflammation. None of these features is specific; however, the combination is distinct both from endocarditis caused by culturable bacteria and from endocardiosis. Ultrastructural analyses revealed both extracellular and intraendothelial bacteria. Clinical history, serology, and PCR are currently necessary to establish an etiologic diagnosis of Bartonella endocarditis. Full text: www.vetpathology.org/cgi/content/full/42/3/370 |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Jun 26, 2008 14:03:20 GMT -8
Bartonella: new explanations for old diseases Until recently, there were only two recognised human diseases caused by Bartonella spp.: trench fever due to B. quintana and Carrion's disease due to B. bacilliformis. Since then, Bartonella spp. have been recognised as causative agents of further human diseases, including bacillary angiomatosis, cat-scratch disease, chronic bacteraemia, chronic lymphadenopathy, meningoencephalitis, stellar retinitis, myelitis, granulomatous hepatitis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis and peliosis hepatitis [1] (Table 1). In parallel, the genus Bartonella, which until 1993 contained only one species (B. bacilliformis), was broadly extended by reclassifying within it the genera Rochalimea [2] and Grahamella [3], and by the description of new Bartonella species (Fig. 1). Based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences, the relatedness of Bartonella spp. to other alpha-2 Proteobacteria including Brucella spp., Afipia spp., Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bradyrhizobium spp. and Bosea spp. has been demonstrated [2, 3]. Active research on the pathogenesis of Bartonella infections has been triggered by the increased number of species of Bartonella, the re-emergence of older disease due to Bartonella, such as the modern form of trench fever that affects alcoholics and homeless people [4], the recognition of the role of Bartonella in AIDS-related diseases and the description of new clinical entities due to Bartonella spp. As a facultative intracellular bacterium, Bartonella interacts closely with its host cells. The study of these interactions gave an insight into some of the underlying virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms, which may be common or specific to the host cell or to the Bartonella species studied, or both. Interactions of Bartonella spp. with (i) red blood cells and (ii) endothelial cells have been studied for several years, but (iii) bone marrow progenitor cells may also play a central role as a sanctuary site in the pathogenesis of Bartonella (Fig. 2). Full article: jmm.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/51/11/915 |
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Post by nyxie63 on Aug 24, 2008 4:06:35 GMT -8
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Post by LymeEnigma on Aug 24, 2008 10:18:56 GMT -8
Thanks for adding those!!!
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