Bartonella infection

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 (PCR) are useful for blood and tissue specimens, including heart valves, where available.

Treatment depends on the species of Bartonella and the type of clinical presentation, but usually consists of antibiotic therapy. In some cases, needle aspiration may be necessary. 

Human bartonellosis is caused by Bartonella, a genus of facultative intracellular bacteria. Since 1993, over 45 Bartonella species have been identified, some of which have been reported to cause human infections.[1]Jacomo V, Kelly PJ, Raoult D. Natural history of Bartonella infections (an exception to Koch's postulate). Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2002 Jan;9(1):8-18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC119901 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11777823?tool=bestpractice.com [2]Chomel BB, Boulouis HJ, Maruyama S, et al. Bartonella spp. in pets and effect on human health. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Mar;12(3):389-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291446 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16704774?tool=bestpractice.com [3]Okaro U, Addisu A, Casanas B, et al. Bartonella species, an emerging cause of blood-culture-negative endocarditis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2017 Jul;30(3):709-46. https://cmr.asm.org/content/30/3/709.long http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28490579?tool=bestpractice.com

The three most common infections described in humans include: cat-scratch disease (CSD) caused byB henselae; Carrion disease caused by B bacilliformis, which consists of a bacteremic phase (Oroya fever) and an eruptive phase (verruga peruana or Peruvian wart); and trench fever caused by B quintana.[4]Anderson BE, Neuman MA. Bartonella spp. as emerging human pathogens. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1997 Apr;10(2):203-19. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/203?view=long&pmid=9105751 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9105751?tool=bestpractice.com [5]Maguina C, Gotuzzo E. Bartonellosis. New and old. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Mar;14(1):1-22;vii. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10738670?tool=bestpractice.com

Bartonella species are responsible for a broad spectrum of clinical syndromes, including prolonged fever of unknown origin, hematologic manifestation, encephalitis and encephalopathy, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenic disease, retinopathy, culture-negative endocarditis, osteomyelitis, arthritis, mediastinal mass, and pleurisy.[4]Anderson BE, Neuman MA. Bartonella spp. as emerging human pathogens. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1997 Apr;10(2):203-19. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/203?view=long&pmid=9105751 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9105751?tool=bestpractice.com [5]Maguina C, Gotuzzo E. Bartonellosis. New and old. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Mar;14(1):1-22;vii. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10738670?tool=bestpractice.com

B henselae and B quintana are also known to cause bacillary angiomatosis in people who are immunocompromised.[4]Anderson BE, Neuman MA. Bartonella spp. as emerging human pathogens. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1997 Apr;10(2):203-19. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/203?view=long&pmid=9105751 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9105751?tool=bestpractice.com [5]Maguina C, Gotuzzo E. Bartonellosis. New and old. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Mar;14(1):1-22;vii. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10738670?tool=bestpractice.com

Human infections caused by other species of Bartonella (e.g., B vinsonii, B elizabethae, B clarridgeae, B grahamii, B alsatica, B rochalimae, B washoensis, and B koehlerae) do occur but are rare.[5]Maguina C, Gotuzzo E. Bartonellosis. New and old. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Mar;14(1):1-22;vii. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10738670?tool=bestpractice.com [6]Brouqui P, Raoult D. Endocarditis due to rare and fastidious bacteria. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001 Jan;14(1):177-207. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/14/1/177?view=long&pmid=11148009 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11148009?tool=bestpractice.com [7]Daly JS, Worthington MG, Brenner DJ, et al. Rochalimaea elizabethae sp. nov. isolated from a patient with endocarditis. J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Apr;31(4):872-81. http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/31/4/872?view=long&pmid=7681847 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7681847?tool=bestpractice.com [8]Roux V, Eykyn SJ, Wyllie S, et al. Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii as an agent of afebrile blood culture-negative endocarditis in a human. J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Apr;38(4):1698-700. http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/full/38/4/1698?view=long&pmid=10747175 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10747175?tool=bestpractice.com [9]Avidor B, Graidy M, Efrat G, et al. Bartonella koehlerae, a new cat-associated agent of culture-negative human endocarditis. J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Aug;42(8):3462-8. http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/full/42/8/3462?view=long&pmid=15297484 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15297484?tool=bestpractice.com [10]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. http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/full/48/6/1921?view=long&pmid=15155180 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15155180?tool=bestpractice.com [11]Angelakis E, Lepidi H, Canel A, et al. Human case of Bartonella alsatica lymphadenitis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1951-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2634634 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19046532?tool=bestpractice.com

Although predominantly an animal species, B vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii has been noted to cause human disease.[12]Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG, Lantos PM, et al. Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and Bartonella henselae bacteremia in a father and daughter with neurological disease. Parasit Vectors. 2010 Apr 8;3(1):29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2859367 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20377863?tool=bestpractice.com Infections caused by B vinsonii subsp. arupensis in humans have been reported in France, Russia, and Nepal causing febrile illnesses, suggesting they are geographically widespread.[13]Bai Y, Kosoy MY, Diaz MH, et al. Bartonella vinsonii subsp. arupensis in humans, Thailand. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Jun;18(6):989-91. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358162 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22607728?tool=bestpractice.com

This topic focuses mainly on the three most common infections described in humans: CSD; Carrion disease; and trench fever. Human infections caused by other species of Bartonella are uncommon; a detailed discussion of these species and the disease they cause is beyond the scope of this topic.