Bartonella infection - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Bartonella infection causes severe clinical syndromes in humans. The three most important pathogens responsible for the majority of infections are B henselae, B quintana, and B bacilliformis.
Some species are worldwide in distribution (B henselae), whereas others are geographically localized (B bacilliformis).
Bartonella species are transmitted from an infected natural host to the susceptible human host either by direct contact (cat bite or scratch for B henselae) or via an insect vector (body lice for B quintana, sand fly for B bacilliformis).
Bartonella species infect erythrocytes and cause vascular proliferation, giving rise to prolonged fever, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly.
Laboratory diagnosis is established by culture, serology, or histopathology. Molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction are useful for blood and tissue specimens, including heart valves, where available.

MRI abdomen, cat-scratch disease with disseminated infection: multiple small abscesses in liver, microabscesses in spleen

From the collection of Janak Koirala, MD

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Definition

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MRI abdomen, cat-scratch disease with disseminated infection: multiple small abscesses in liver, microabscesses in spleen

Citations

Key Articles

Maguina C, Gotuzzo E. Bartonellosis. New and old. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Mar;14(1):1-22;vii.[Abstract]
Rolain JM, Brouqui P, Koehler JE, et al. Recommendations for treatment of human infections caused by Bartonella species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Jun;48(6):1921-33.[Abstract][Full Text]
Florin TA, Zaoutis TE, Zaoutis LB. Beyond cat scratch disease: widening spectrum of Bartonella henselae infection. Pediatrics. 2008 May;121(5):e1413-25. [Abstract]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bartonella infection. Jan 2022 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Prutsky G, Domecq JP, Mori L, et al. Treatment outcomes of human bartonellosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2013 Oct;17(10):e811-9. [Abstract][Full Text]

Other Online Resources

CDC health information for international travel (yellow book): Bartonella infections

Referenced Articles

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