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BMC Ophthalmology Aug 2023Cat-scratch disease typically presents with various ocular manifestations such as uveitis, vitritis, retinitis, retinochoroiditis, and optic neuritis. However, fundus...
BACKGROUND
Cat-scratch disease typically presents with various ocular manifestations such as uveitis, vitritis, retinitis, retinochoroiditis, and optic neuritis. However, fundus nodular lesions was rarely reported. In our study, we reported a case of Cat-Scratch disease with binocular fundus nodular lesions.
CASE PRESENTATION
An 11-year old male presented with uveitis in the right eye and bilateral fundus nodular lesions after indirect contact with unvaccinated cats. Comprehensive ancillary examinations including wide-angle fundus photography, ultrasonography, fluorescein fundus angiography, optical coherence tomography, and orbital magnetic resonance imaging were performed to elucidate the multidimensional features of the binocular lesions. Metagenomics next-generation sequencing was utilized to confirm the diagnosis of Cat-scratch disease. The patient's condition showed improvement after a 6-month combination treatment regimen involving systemic administration of doxycycline hyclate and methylprednisolone tablets, as well as local application of mydriatic and corticosteroid eye drops.
CONCLUSIONS
We firstly reported a case of Cat-scratch disease presenting simultaneously with uveitis and fundus nodular lesions caused by Bartonella henselae infection in a child. Timely diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids showed promising outcomes for the prognosis of these ocular disorders.
Topics: Male; Humans; Cat-Scratch Disease; Bartonella henselae; Fundus Oculi; Retinitis; Chorioretinitis
PubMed: 37544996
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-023-03063-4 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2023Bartonella spp. are fastidious bacteria frequently identified as the cause of blood culture-negative (BCN) endocarditis. However, Bartonella infections are difficult to...
BACKGROUND
Bartonella spp. are fastidious bacteria frequently identified as the cause of blood culture-negative (BCN) endocarditis. However, Bartonella infections are difficult to diagnose in routine laboratory testing and their incidence is probably underestimated. We investigated the epidemiological and clinical features of Bartonella endocarditis cases diagnosed between 2009 and 2021 on Reunion Island (Southwest Indian Ocean).
METHOD
We retrospectively included all patients diagnosed with Bartonella endocarditis at Reunion Island University Hospital during this period. Endocarditis was diagnosed on the basis of microbiological findings, including serological tests (IFA) and PCR on cardiac valves, and the modified Duke criteria. We used then the multispacer typing (MST) method to genotype the available Bartonella strains.
FINDINGS
We report 12 cases of B. quintana endocarditis on Reunion Island (83.3% in men, median patient age: 32 years). All the patients originated from the Comoros archipelago. The traditional risk factors for B. quintana infection (homelessness, alcoholism, exposure to body lice) were absent in all but two of the patients, who reported head louse infestations in childhood. Previous heart disease leading to valve dysfunction was recorded in 50% of patients. All patients underwent cardiac valve surgery and antimicrobial therapy with a regimen including doxycycline. All patients presented high C-reactive protein concentrations, anemia and negative blood cultures. The titer of IgG antibodies against Bartonella sp. exceeded 1:800 in 42% of patients. Specific PCR on cardiac valves confirmed the diagnosis of B. quintana endocarditis in all patients. Genotyping by the MST method was performed on four strains detected in preserved excised valves and was contributive for three, which displayed the MST6 genotype.
CONCLUSIONS
Bartonella quintana is an important cause of infective endocarditis in the Comoros archipelago and should be suspected in patients with mitral valve dysfunction and BCN from this area.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Bartonella quintana; Indian Ocean; Retrospective Studies; Endocarditis; Bartonella
PubMed: 37676863
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011606 -
Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology Aug 2023To present the clinical and demographic characteristics, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment approach in cases of cat scratch disease (CSD) with ocular involvement.
OBJECTIVES
To present the clinical and demographic characteristics, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment approach in cases of cat scratch disease (CSD) with ocular involvement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The records of 19 patients followed-up and treated between 2010 and 2020, including detailed ophthalmological examinations, imaging findings, and treatment approach, were evaluated retrospectively.
RESULTS
Twenty-three eyes of 19 patients, 7 female (37%) and 12 male (63%), were included in the study. The mean age was 34.1±13.3 (range: 11-56) years, and the mean follow-up duration was 12.6±18.0 (range: 1-81) months. Unilateral involvement was observed in 15 cases (79%). Cat contact was reported in 14 cases (74%). In 6 cases (32%), flu-like symptoms were present before the ocular complaints. The mean visual acuity (VA) at presentation was 0.42±0.36 (range: 0.001-1.0). Anterior uveitis was observed in 3 eyes (13%). Posterior segment findings included neuroretinitis in 14 (61%), superficial retinal infiltrate(s) in 8 (35%), papillitis in 3 (13%), branch retinal artery occlusion in 2 (8%), and cilioretinal artery occlusion in 1 (4%) of the eyes. All cases were positive for immunglobulin (Ig)M and/or IgG. Systemic antibiotic therapy was administered to all patients. Intravenous pulse or oral corticosteroids were given, especially in cases with optic disc involvement. The mean final VA was 0.80±0.25 (range: 0.01-1.0).
CONCLUSION
CSD may present with different ocular involvement patterns. Apart from the classical neuroretinitis and macular star appearance, patients may present with isolated optic disc edema, branch retinal artery occlusion, and retinal infiltrations. In such patients, cat contact history and serology should be evaluated to differentiate CSD.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Cat-Scratch Disease; Retrospective Studies; Retina; Retinitis; Chorioretinitis; Retinal Artery Occlusion
PubMed: 37602640
DOI: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2022.44692 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2023Bartonella are generally recognized as zoonotic pathogens of mammals, including many rodent species. However, data on the genetic diversity of Bartonella in some regions...
Bartonella are generally recognized as zoonotic pathogens of mammals, including many rodent species. However, data on the genetic diversity of Bartonella in some regions are still absent in China. In this study, we collected rodent samples (Meriones unguiculatus, Spermophilus dauricus, Eolagurus luteus, and Cricetulus barabensis) from Inner Mongolia located in Northern China. The Bartonella were detected and identified by sequencing the gltA, ftsZ, ITS, and groEL genes in them. An overall 47.27% (52/110) positive rate was observed. This may be the first report that M. unguiculatus and E. luteus harbor Bartonella. Phylogenetic and genetic analysis on gltA, ftsZ, ITS, and groEL genes indicated that the strains were divided into seven distinct clades, suggesting the diverse genetic genotypes of Bartonella species in this area. Of those, Clade 5 meets the criteria for identification as a novel species based on gene sequence dissimilarity to known Bartonella species and herein we name it "Candidatus Bartonella mongolica".
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Sciuridae; Phylogeny; Genotype; China; Gerbillinae
PubMed: 37384796
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011462 -
International Journal of Infectious... Aug 2023Bacillary angiomatosis is a disseminated vascular proliferative disease caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli Bartonella henselae or Bartonella quintana. Bacillary...
Bacillary angiomatosis is a disseminated vascular proliferative disease caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli Bartonella henselae or Bartonella quintana. Bacillary angiomatosis is mostly described in immunosuppressed patients with HIV infection and organ transplant recipients. We describe the case of a female aged 75 years who is a kidney transplant recipient who was admitted for a 3-month history of intermittent fever, chills, vomiting, and a 12-kg weight loss. The maintenance immunosuppression was based on prednisone, mycophenolate, and monthly infusions of belatacept. Physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated blood acute phase proteins but all blood cultures were negative. Serological tests for Bartonella were negative. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan and transesophageal echocardiography were normal. A Positron Emission Tomography scan showed a hypermetabolic mass in the duodenopancreatic region, with multiple hepatic and splenic lesions. Histological findings of spleen and pancreatic biopsies were not conclusive. The histopathological examination of a celiac lymph node biopsy finally demonstrated bacillary angiomatosis. The diagnosis of bacillary angiomatosis in immunocompromised patients is most often delayed in the absence of skin involvement. A high index of clinical suspicion is needed when interpreting negative results.
Topics: Humans; Female; Angiomatosis, Bacillary; Abatacept; HIV Infections; Kidney Transplantation; Immunosuppression Therapy
PubMed: 37086865
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.04.404 -
Microbes and Infection 2023Human pathogenic bacteria circulating in the bloodstream need to find a way to interact with endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels to infect and colonise the...
Human pathogenic bacteria circulating in the bloodstream need to find a way to interact with endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels to infect and colonise the host. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of ECs might represent an attractive initial target for bacterial interaction, as many bacterial adhesins have reported affinities to ECM proteins, in particular to fibronectin (Fn). Here, we analysed the general role of EC-expressed Fn for bacterial adhesion. For this, we evaluated the expression levels of ECM coding genes in different ECs, revealing that Fn is the highest expressed gene and thereby, it is highly abundant in the ECM environment of ECs. The role of Fn as a mediator in bacterial cell-host adhesion was evaluated in adhesion assays of Acinetobacter baumannii, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Staphylococcus aureus to ECs. The assays demonstrated that bacteria colocalised with Fn fibres, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Fn removal from the ECM environment (FN1 knockout ECs) diminished bacterial adherence to ECs in both static and dynamic adhesion assays to varying extents, as evaluated via absolute quantification using qPCR. Interactions between adhesins and Fn might represent the crucial step for the adhesion of human-pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria targeting the ECs as a niche of infection.
Topics: Humans; Adhesins, Bacterial; Bacterial Adhesion; Bartonella henselae; Endothelial Cells; Fibronectins
PubMed: 37343664
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105172 -
Microorganisms Aug 2023In Colombia, tropical febrile illnesses represent one of the most important causes of clinical attention. Febrile illnesses in the tropics are mainly zoonotic and have a... (Review)
Review
In Colombia, tropical febrile illnesses represent one of the most important causes of clinical attention. Febrile illnesses in the tropics are mainly zoonotic and have a broad etiology. The Colombian surveillance system monitors some notifiable diseases. However, several etiologies are not monitored by this system. In the present review, we describe eleven different etiologies of zoonotic tropical febrile illnesses that are not monitored by the Colombian surveillance system but have scientific, historical, and contemporary data that confirm or suggest their presence in different regions of the country: , Arenavirus, , relapsing fever group , , , Hantavirus, Mayaro virus, , Oropouche virus, and . These could generate a risk for the local population, travelers, and immigrants, due to which they should be included in the mandatory notification system, considering their importance for Colombian public health.
PubMed: 37763998
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092154 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Bats carry many zoonotic pathogens without showing pronounced pathology, with a few exceptions. The underlying immune tolerance mechanisms in bats remain poorly...
Bats carry many zoonotic pathogens without showing pronounced pathology, with a few exceptions. The underlying immune tolerance mechanisms in bats remain poorly understood, although information-rich omics tools hold promise for identifying a wide range of immune markers and their relationship with infection. To evaluate the generality of immune responses to infection, we assessed the differences and similarities in serum proteomes of wild vampire bats () across infection status with five taxonomically distinct pathogens: bacteria ( spp., hemoplasmas), protozoa (), and DNA (herpesviruses) and RNA (alphacoronaviruses) viruses. From 19 bats sampled in 2019 in Belize, we evaluated the up- and downregulated immune responses of infected versus uninfected individuals for each pathogen. Using a high-quality genome annotation for vampire bats, we identified 586 serum proteins but found no evidence for differential abundance nor differences in composition between infected and uninfected bats. However, using receiver operating characteristic curves, we identified four to 48 candidate biomarkers of infection depending on the pathogen, including seven overlapping biomarkers (DSG2, PCBP1, MGAM, APOA4, DPEP1, GOT1, and IGFALS). Enrichment analysis of these proteins revealed that our viral pathogens, but not the bacteria or protozoa studied, were associated with upregulation of extracellular and cytoplasmatic secretory vesicles (indicative of viral replication) and downregulation of complement activation and coagulation cascades. Additionally, herpesvirus infection elicited a downregulation of leukocyte-mediated immunity and defense response but an upregulation of an inflammatory and humoral immune response. In contrast to our two viral infections, we found downregulation of lipid and cholesterol homeostasis and metabolism with spp. infection, of platelet-dense and secretory granules with hemoplasma infection, and of blood coagulation pathways with infection. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that vampire bats have a similar suite of immune mechanisms for viruses distinct from responses to the other pathogen taxa, and we identify potential biomarkers that can expand our understanding of pathogenesis of these infections in bats. By applying a proteomic approach to a multi-pathogen system in wild animals, our study provides a distinct framework that could be expanded across bat species to increase our understanding of how bats tolerate pathogens.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Chiroptera; Proteomics; Phenotype; Down-Regulation; Chagas Disease; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38193073
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1281732 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Bats, along with their ectoparasites, harbor a wide diversity of symbiotic and potential pathogenic bacteria. Despite the enormous diversity of bats (181 species), few...
INTRODUCTION
Bats, along with their ectoparasites, harbor a wide diversity of symbiotic and potential pathogenic bacteria. Despite the enormous diversity of bats (181 species), few studies aimed to investigate the bacterial microbiome of Brazilian chiropterans and associated ectoparasites. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and associated Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil.
METHODS
Oral and rectal swabs were collected from 30 bats ( [ = 13], [ = 9], [ = 5], [ = 2], and [ = 1]). In addition, a total of 58 mites (15 Macronyssidae and 43 Spinturnicidae) and 48 Streblidae bat flies were collected from the captured bats. After DNA extraction and purification, each sample's bacterial composition was analyzed with metagenomic sequencing.
RESULTS
The microbiome composition of both oral and rectal bat swab samples showed that Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial class. and represented the most abundant genera in Streblidae flies. While (Alphaproteobacteria) was the most abundant genus found in Spinturnicidae, (Gammaproteobacteria) was found in high abundance in Macronyssidae mites. In addition to characterizing the microbiome of each sample at the class and genus taxonomic levels, we identified medically significant bacteria able to infect both animals and humans in oral ( and ) and rectal swabs (, , , , ), Macronyssidae (, , ) and Spinturnicidae (, ) mites as well as Streblidae flies (, ).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Besides expanding the knowledge on the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and Streblidae flies from Brazil, the present work showed, for the first time, the bacterial community of bat-associated Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites.
PubMed: 37928691
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1261156 -
Leukemia Research Reports 2024Bartonelloses are diseases caused by Bartonella sp., transmitted to humans by blood sucking arthropod vectors. Clinical presentations include bacillary angiomatosis, cat... (Review)
Review
Bartonelloses are diseases caused by Bartonella sp., transmitted to humans by blood sucking arthropod vectors. Clinical presentations include bacillary angiomatosis, cat scratch disease and atypical forms. We performed a review of cases of bartonelloses and hematological malignancies published in HIV-negative patients. Terms used were Bartonella or Bacillary Angiomatosis and Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, or Cancer. Fifteen cases met our criteria. Clinical presentations included bacillary angiomatosis, chronic fever, chronic lymphadenopathy, osteomyelitis, neuroretinitis, chronic anemia and hepatosplenic peliosis. Fourteen patients were asymptomatic after antibiotic therapy, and one died before antibiotic treatment. Clinicians should be suspicious of Bartonella sp. infections in immunocompromised patients.
PubMed: 38192503
DOI: 10.1016/j.lrr.2023.100402