Bartonella

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Bartonella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Alpha Proteobacteria Order: Rhizobiales Family: Bartonellaceae Genus: Bartonella Strong et al., 1915
Species
B. alsatica B. bacilliformis B. birtlesii B. bovis B. capreoli B. clarridgeiae B. doshiae B. elizabethae B. grahamii B. henselae B. koehlerae B. peromysci B. quintana B. schoenbuchii B. talpae B. taylorii B. tribocorum B. vinsonii spp. arupensis B. vinsonii spp. berkhoffii B. vinsonii spp. vinsonii B. washoensis etc.

Bartonella is a Gram-negative genus of bacterium, some of which are extra-cellular, opportunistic human pathogens.^[1]

Contents 1 Bartonella Infection Cycle 2 Pathophysiology (Humans) 2.1 Humans as reservoir host: 2.1.1 B.bacilliformis 2.1.2 B.quintana 2.2 Humans as incidental host: 2.2.1 B.henselae 2.2.2 B.clarridgeiae 2.2.3 B.koehlerae 2.2.4 B.elizabethae 2.2.5 B.vinsonii 2.2.6 B.grahamii 2.2.7 B.washoensis 3 History of Discovery 4 References 5 Bartonella as component of CVBD 6 Bartonella as risk factor for homeless IV Drug Users

[edit] Bartonella Infection Cycle

The currently accepted model explaining the infection cycle is the following: In general case, the transmitting vectors are blood-sucking arthropods and the reservoir hosts are mammals. Immediately after infection, the bacteria colonize a primary niche, the endothelial cells. Every 5 days, a part of the Bartonella in the endothelial cells are released in the blood stream where they infect erythrocytes. The bacteria then invade and replicate within a phagosomal membrane inside the erythrocytes. Inside the erythrocytes, the Bartonella keeps multiplying until a certain density, where the erythrocyte is still "working" properly. At this point, the Bartonella has simply to wait until it is taken with the erythrocytes by a blood-sucking arthropod.

[edit] Pathophysiology (Humans)

[edit] Humans as reservoir host:

[edit] B.bacilliformis

• Causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever, Verruga peruana)
• Appearance: Andes

[edit] B.quintana

• Causes Trench fever, Bacillary angiomatosis, and endocarditis
• Appearance: worldwide

[edit] Humans as incidental host:

[edit] B.henselae

• reservoir host: Cat
• Causes: Cat-scratch Disease, Bacillary angiomatosis, Bacillary peliosis, Endocarditis, Bacteremia with fever and Neuroretinitis
• Appearance: worldwide

[edit] B.clarridgeiae

• reservoir host: Cat
• Causes: cat-scratch disease

[edit] B.koehlerae

• reservoir host: Cat

[edit] B.elizabethae

• reservoir host: Rat
• Causes: Endocarditis
• High risk: IV Drug Users

[edit] B.vinsonii

• reservoir host: Mouse and Dog

[edit] B.grahamii

• reservoir host: Mouse
• Causes: Endocarditis and Neuroretinitis

[edit] B.washoensis

• reservoir host: Squirrel
• Causes: Myocarditis

[edit] History of Discovery

Rochalimaea is an older synonym. It is named after Dr Alberto Leonardo Barton Thompson, a naturalized peruvian scientist born in Argentina.

[edit] References

1. ^ Walker DH (1996). Rickettsiae. In: Barron's Medical Microbiology (Barron S et al, eds.), 4th ed., Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1. 

• Zaher Zeaiter, Zhongxing Liang, and Didier Raoult Genetic Classification and Differentiation of Bartonella Species Based on Comparison of Partial ftsZ Gene Sequences link
• V. Jacomo, P. J. Kelly and D. Raoult. Natural History of Bartonella Infections (an Exception to Koch’s Postulate) link
• Maco, Vicente. Carrion's disease (Bartonellosis bacilliformis) confirmed by histopathology in the High Forest of Peru [1]

[edit] Bartonella as component of CVBD

CVBD stands for Canine Vector-borne Diseases. This covers diseases caused by pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites as ticks, fleas, sand flies or mosquitoes. Bartonella was found to be a tick borne pathogen in 1999. ^[2]

In 2001 came the first report from Lyme disease treating MDs that their patients were co-infected with Bartonella and Lyme disease. ^[2] Multiple reports of this finding seem to indicate that Bartonella is not only a tick borne but a tick-transmitted pathogen. ^[3] However, actual transmission has not been studied. Dr. Bruno Chomel has written the best paper on the manifestations of Bartonella in humans. ^[2] Bartonella has been infecting humans for thousands of years, as demonstrated by Bartonella Quintana DNA in a 4000 year old tooth.^[4] Other diseases caused by ectoparasites:

• Leishmania
• Borrelia
• Babesia
• Dirofilaria
• Ehrlichia
• Anaplasma

[edit] Bartonella as risk factor for homeless IV Drug Users

Whether because rodent associated, IV transmitted or because tick borne disease is higher risk for the homeless, being a homeless IV drug user puts you at high risk for Bartonella, in particular B. Elizabethae. B. Elizabethae seropositivity rates in this population range from 12.5% in Los Angeles ^[5], to 33% in Baltimore, Maryland^[6], 46% in New York ^[7] and in Sweden 39% ^[8].