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Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Sep 2021Several outbreaks of trench fever caused by Bartonella quintana occurred in soldiers during World Wars I and II. Although trench fever cases have been decreasing...
Several outbreaks of trench fever caused by Bartonella quintana occurred in soldiers during World Wars I and II. Although trench fever cases have been decreasing worldwide, the disease was reported among the homeless population in developing and developed countries. The current prevalence of B. quintana infection in Japan is unclear. Blood and body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) samples were obtained from homeless inpatients with body lice during emergency hospitalization in Tokyo from January 2013 to March 2015. Patients were tested for B. quintana infections using the culture method, polymerase chain reaction, and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Among the 29 patients tested, the presence of Bartonella spp. was confirmed by genomic sequencing of DNA extracted from two samples from blood culture performed for 15 out of 29 patients and from body louse samples of 20 patients (69%). Immunoglobulin G against B. quintana was detected in 10 patients (34.5%) at a cut-off titer of 1:256 in IFA. B. quintana infection was detected in samples obtained between 2013 and 2015 in Tokyo and needs to be on the list of differential diagnoses performed for febrile homeless individuals.
Topics: Aged; Animals; Bartonella quintana; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Pediculus; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tokyo; Trench Fever
PubMed: 33518618
DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2020.505 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jan 2024
Review
Topics: Humans; Bartonella quintana; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Mitral Valve; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Aortic Valve; Endocarditis; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella; Trench Fever
PubMed: 38230945
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00402-23 -
International Journal of Infectious... Oct 2013Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, and Bartonella bacilliformis are responsible for the majority of cases of bartonellosis in humans. These species have various... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, and Bartonella bacilliformis are responsible for the majority of cases of bartonellosis in humans. These species have various unique epidemiologic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and treatment approaches. The objective of this study was to summarize the evidence on the treatment for the three most common species of Bartonella in humans.
METHODS
We searched electronic databases through August 2011 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the regimens used to treat diseases produced by B. henselae, B. quintana, and B. bacilliformis. Study selection and appraisal were done in duplicate.
RESULTS
We found two randomized and seven non-randomized studies at high risk of bias. For cat scratch disease, antibiotics did not significantly affect the cure rate or time to achieve cure. In chronic bacteremia, gentamicin and doxycycline significantly increased the resolution rate. The recommended treatment was not better than other regimens for infectious endocarditis and bacillary angiomatosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Current clinical practice for the treatment of bartonellosis relies mostly on expert opinion and antimicrobial susceptibility data. Randomized controlled trials are needed in the field to compare different treatment options.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Doxycycline; Gentamicins; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23602630
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.02.016 -
Access Microbiology Mar 2021An otherwise healthy patient, with minimal clinical, biochemical and peroperative signs of infection, was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis by 16S PCR. The...
An otherwise healthy patient, with minimal clinical, biochemical and peroperative signs of infection, was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis by 16S PCR. The patient subsequently developed a post-sternotomy mediastinitis and was the only detected pathogen. can cause severe infections in individuals not classically at risk, and may be missed in the routine diagnostic work-up of endocarditis.
PubMed: 34151169
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000217 -
Frontiers in Nephrology 2023Although is the leading cause of acute infective endocarditis (IE) in adults, spp. has concomitantly emerged as the leading cause of "blood culture-negative IE"... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Although is the leading cause of acute infective endocarditis (IE) in adults, spp. has concomitantly emerged as the leading cause of "blood culture-negative IE" (BCNE). Pre-disposing factors, clinical presentation and kidney biopsy findings in Bartonella IE-associated glomerulonephritis (GN) show subtle differences and some unique features relative to other bacterial infection-related GNs. We highlight these features along with key diagnostic clues and management approach in Bartonella IE-associated GN.
METHODS
We conducted a pooled analysis of 89 cases of Bartonella IE-associated GN (54 published case reports and case series; 18 published conference abstracts identified using an English literature search of several commonly used literature search modalities); and four unpublished cases from our institution.
RESULTS
and are the most commonly implicated species causing IE in humans. Subacute presentation, affecting damaged native and/or prosthetic heart valves, high titer anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), mainly proteinase-3 (PR-3) specificity, fastidious nature and lack of positive blood cultures of these Gram-negative bacilli, a higher frequency of focal glomerular crescents compared to other bacterial infection-related GNs are some of the salient features of Bartonella IE-associated GN. C3-dominant, but frequent C1q and IgM immunofluorescence staining is seen on biopsy. A "full-house" immunofluorescence staining pattern is also described but can be seen in IE -associated GN due to other bacteria as well. Non-specific generalized symptoms, cytopenia, heart failure and other organ damage due to embolic phenomena are the highlights on clinical presentation needing a multi-disciplinary approach for management. Awareness of the updated modified Duke criteria for IE, a high index of suspicion for underlying infection despite negative microbiologic cultures, history of exposure to animals, particularly infected cats, and use of send-out serologic tests for spp. early in the course of management can help in early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.
CONCLUSION
Diagnosis of IE-associated GN can be challenging particularly with BCNE. The number of Bartonella IE-associated GN cases in a single institution tends to be less than IE due to gram positive cocci, however Bartonella is currently the leading cause of BCNE. We provide a much-needed discussion on this topic.
PubMed: 38288381
DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1322741 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Dec 2023BACKGROUND Bartonella quintana is a slow-growing gram-negative bacterium that can cause severe culture-negative endocarditis. In many cases, its insidious onset can be...
BACKGROUND Bartonella quintana is a slow-growing gram-negative bacterium that can cause severe culture-negative endocarditis. In many cases, its insidious onset can be difficult to diagnose given the variable symptoms in the early phases of the disease. This delay in detection and thus treatment can cause advanced consequences of the disease, including heart failure and severe pulmonary hypertension. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with signs and symptoms indicating an acute stroke. Further investigation showed that the source was cardioembolic, and despite negative blood cultures, endocarditis was suspected due to echocardiogram findings. Bartonella endocarditis was diagnosed based on serology results. Further testing indicated severe pulmonary hypertension, a sequelae of chronic heart failure in the setting of endocarditis. This caused a significant delay in valvular repair surgery. This case illustrates the progression from acute to chronic infection, the sequelae of this disease process, and the considerations involved in management. CONCLUSIONS Bartonella is an under-appreciated cause of endocarditis and can evolve into chronic disease with clinical consequences requiring nuanced management. We described a case of chronic culture-negative endocarditis that presented with acute embolic stroke and the sequelae of severe multi-valvular disease in a patient with recent incarceration and unstable housing. This case provides clinicians with valuable insight into the recognition of Bartonella endocarditis, the variable clinical presentations of this pathology, the nuanced and multifactorial approaches to medical management, and the indications for surgery.
Topics: Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Bartonella quintana; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Endocarditis; Heart Failure
PubMed: 38079378
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942160 -
Veterinary Research 2009Bartonella spp. are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause characteristic hostrestricted hemotropic infections in mammals and are typically transmitted by... (Review)
Review
Bartonella spp. are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause characteristic hostrestricted hemotropic infections in mammals and are typically transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods. In the mammalian reservoir, these bacteria initially infect a yet unrecognized primary niche, which seeds organisms into the blood stream leading to the establishment of a long-lasting intra-erythrocytic bacteremia as the hall-mark of infection. Bacterial type IV secretion systems, which are supra-molecular transporters ancestrally related to bacterial conjugation systems, represent crucial pathogenicity factors that have contributed to a radial expansion of the Bartonella lineage in nature by facilitating adaptation to unique mammalian hosts. On the molecular level, the type IV secretion system VirB/VirD4 is known to translocate a cocktail of different effector proteins into host cells, which subvert multiple cellular functions to the benefit of the infecting pathogen. Furthermore, bacterial adhesins mediate a critical, early step in the pathogenesis of the bartonellae by binding to extracellular matrix components of host cells, which leads to firm bacterial adhesion to the cell surface as a prerequisite for the efficient translocation of type IV secretion effector proteins. The best-studied adhesins in bartonellae are the orthologous trimeric autotransporter adhesins, BadA in Bartonella henselae and the Vomp family in Bartonella quintana. Genetic diversity and strain variability also appear to enhance the ability of bartonellae to invade not only specific reservoir hosts, but also accidental hosts, as shown for B. henselae. Bartonellae have been identified in many different blood-sucking arthropods, in which they are typically found to cause extracellular infections of the mid-gut epithelium. Adaptation to specific vectors and reservoirs seems to be a common strategy of bartonellae for transmission and host diversity. However, knowledge regarding arthropod specificity/restriction, the mode of transmission, and the bacterial factors involved in arthropod infection and transmission is still limited.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Bartonella; Disease Reservoirs; Ecosystem; Humans; Insect Vectors; Insecta
PubMed: 19284965
DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009011 -
Clinical & Developmental Immunology 2012Most infections by genus Bartonella in immunocompromised patients are caused by B. henselae and B. quintana. Unlike immunocompetent hosts who usually develop milder... (Review)
Review
Most infections by genus Bartonella in immunocompromised patients are caused by B. henselae and B. quintana. Unlike immunocompetent hosts who usually develop milder diseases such as cat scratch disease and trench fever, immunocompromised patients, including those living with HIV/AIDS and posttransplant patients, are more likely to develop different and severe life-threatening disease. This paper will discuss Bartonella's manifestations in immunosuppressed patients and will examine Bartonella's interaction with the immune system including its mechanisms of establishing infection and immune escape. Gaps in current understanding of the immunology of Bartonella infection in immunocompromised hosts will be highlighted.
Topics: Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella quintana; Cat-Scratch Disease; Cell Proliferation; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Trench Fever
PubMed: 22162717
DOI: 10.1155/2012/612809 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jan 2024Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress...
Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress response and virulence. Despite their pivotal roles, a comprehensive mapping of tRNA modifications and their associated synthesis genes is still limited, with a predominant focus on free-living bacteria. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating comparative genomics, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing, to predict the set of tRNA modification genes responsible for tRNA maturation in two intracellular pathogens- Houston I and Toulouse, which are causative agents of cat-scratch disease and trench fever, respectively. This analysis presented challenges, particularly because of host RNA contamination, which served as a potential source of error. However, our approach predicted 26 genes responsible for synthesizing 23 distinct tRNA modifications in and 22 genes associated with 23 modifications in . Notably, akin to other intracellular and symbiotic bacteria, both species have undergone substantial reductions in tRNA modification genes, mostly by simplifying the hypermodifications present at positions 34 and 37. exhibited the additional loss of four modifications and these were linked to examples of gene decay, providing snapshots of reductive evolution.
PubMed: 38260440
DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574729 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2020spp. are increasingly implicated in association with a spectrum of zoonotic infectious diseases. One hundred sanitary workers in La Rioja, Spain completed a...
spp. are increasingly implicated in association with a spectrum of zoonotic infectious diseases. One hundred sanitary workers in La Rioja, Spain completed a questionnaire and provided blood specimens for spp. serology and alpha-Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) enrichment blood culture/PCR. Six immunofluorescence assays (IFA) were performed and aseptically obtained blood specimens were inoculated into liquid BAPGM and subcultured onto blood agar plates. DNA was amplified using conventional and real-time PCR assays. The spp., strain, or genotype was determined by DNA sequencing. seroreactivity was documented in 83.1% and bloodstream infection in 21.6% of participants. , subsp. genotypes I and III, and were identified. IFA seroreactivity and PCR positivity were not statistically associated with self-reported symptoms. Our results suggest that exposure to and non-clinical infection with spp. may occur more often than previously suspected in the La Rioja region.
PubMed: 32143533
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9030189