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Microbes and Infection 2015Studying ancient infectious diseases is a challenge, as written contemporary descriptions, when available, are often imprecise and do not allow for accurate...
Studying ancient infectious diseases is a challenge, as written contemporary descriptions, when available, are often imprecise and do not allow for accurate discrimination among the pathogens endemic at that time. Paleomicrobiology offers a unique access to the history of these infections by identifying precisely the causative agents. Body louse-transmitted infections are amongst the most epidemic diseases in history, especially in war and famine periods. Of these, Bartonella quintana was detected by suicide PCR in 4000-year-old human remains, thus representing the oldest evidence to date of an arthropod-transmitted infection to human beings. This species has also been detected in human specimens from the 11th to 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, Bartonella henselae, a cat- and flea-associated pathogen, was detected in cat specimens from the 13th to 18th centuries, therefore demonstrating an association of the bacterium and its reservoir for over 800 years. Therefore, pathogenic Bartonella species have been involved in several outbreaks in the past millennia and should systematically be investigated in human remains from suspected epidemics.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella quintana; Cat Diseases; Cats; Fossils; Humans; Paleontology; Pediculus; Polymerase Chain Reaction
PubMed: 26369716
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.09.002 -
PloS One 2016Domestic cats are the natural reservoir of Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae and B. koehlerae. To determine the role of wild felids in the epidemiology of Bartonella...
Isolation of Bartonella henselae and Two New Bartonella Subspecies, Bartonellakoehlerae Subspecies boulouisii subsp. nov. and Bartonella koehlerae Subspecies bothieri subsp. nov. from Free-Ranging Californian Mountain Lions and Bobcats.
Domestic cats are the natural reservoir of Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae and B. koehlerae. To determine the role of wild felids in the epidemiology of Bartonella infections, blood was collected from 14 free-ranging California mountain lions (Puma concolor) and 19 bobcats (Lynx rufus). Bartonella spp. were isolated from four (29%) mountain lions and seven (37%) bobcats. These isolates were characterized using growth characteristics, biochemical reactions, molecular techniques, including PCR-RFLP of selected genes or interspacer region, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), partial sequencing of several genes, and DNA-DNA hybridization. Two isolates were identical to B. henselae genotype II. All other isolates were distinguished from B. henselae and B. koehlerae by PCR-RFLP of the gltA gene using endonucleases HhaI, TaqI and AciI, with the latter two discriminating between the mountain lion and the bobcat isolates. These two novel isolates displayed specific PFGE profiles distinct from B. henselae, B. koehlerae and B. clarridgeiae. Sequences of amplified gene fragments from the three mountain lion and six bobcat isolates were closely related to, but distinct from, B. henselae and B. koehlerae. Finally, DNA-DNA hybridization studies demonstrated that the mountain lion and bobcat strains are most closely related to B. koehlerae. We propose naming the mountain lion isolates B. koehlerae subsp. boulouisii subsp. nov. (type strain: L-42-94), and the bobcat isolates B. koehlerae subsp. bothieri subsp. nov. (type strain: L-17-96), and to emend B. koehlerae as B. koehlerae subsp. koehlerae. The mode of transmission and the zoonotic potential of these new Bartonella subspecies remain to be determined.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; DNA; Felidae; Female; Male; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Species Specificity
PubMed: 26981874
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148299 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Dec 2002Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we investigated the prevalence of Rickettsia prowazekii, Bartonella quintana, and Borrelia recurrentis in 841 body lice... (Review)
Review
Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we investigated the prevalence of Rickettsia prowazekii, Bartonella quintana, and Borrelia recurrentis in 841 body lice collected from various countries. We detected R. prowazekii in body lice from Burundi in 1997 and in lice from Burundi and Rwanda in 2001; B. quintana infections of body lice were widespread. We did not detect B. recurrentis in any lice.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella quintana; Crowding; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Pediculus; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Refugees; Rickettsia prowazekii; Trench Fever; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne
PubMed: 12498677
DOI: 10.3201/eid0812.020111 -
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 -
Anales de Pediatria Jun 2023
Topics: Humans; Bartonella henselae; Retinitis; Cat-Scratch Disease
PubMed: 37164827
DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2023.04.006 -
Microbes and Infection 2018Intracellular bacteria, such as Chlamydiales, Anaplasma or Bartonella, need to persist inside their host in order to complete their developmental cycle and to infect new... (Review)
Review
Intracellular bacteria, such as Chlamydiales, Anaplasma or Bartonella, need to persist inside their host in order to complete their developmental cycle and to infect new hosts. In order to escape from the host immune system, intracellular bacteria have developed diverse mechanisms of persistence, which can directly impact the health of their host.
Topics: Anaplasma; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bartonella; Chlamydiales; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunomodulation
PubMed: 29162422
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.11.002 -
Veterinary Research 2005Within the last 15 years, several bacteria of the genus Bartonella were recognized as zoonotic agents in humans and isolated from various mammalian reservoirs. Based on... (Review)
Review
Within the last 15 years, several bacteria of the genus Bartonella were recognized as zoonotic agents in humans and isolated from various mammalian reservoirs. Based on either isolation of the bacterium or PCR testing, eight Bartonella species or subspecies have been recognized as zoonotic agents, including B. henselae, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. grahamii, B. washoensis and more recently B. koehlerae. The present manuscript reviews the factors associated with the emergence of these zoonotic pathogens, including better diagnostic tools and methods to identify these fastidious bacteria, host immunosuppression (caused by infectious agents, cancer, aging or induced by immunosuppressive drugs), the interaction of co-infection by several infectious agents that may enhanced the pathogenecity of these bacteria, increased outdoor activity leading to exposure to wildlife reservoirs or vectors, poverty and low income associated with infestation by various ectoparasites, such as body lice and finally the dispersal of Bartonellae around the world. Furthermore, a description of the main epidemiological and clinical features of zoonotic Bartonellae is given. Finally, the main means for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases are presented.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Zoonoses
PubMed: 15845231
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2005009 -
Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of... Dec 2020Because isolated ecosystems contribute to species variability, especially oceanic island ecosystems, the present work focused on the study of the Bartonella species and...
Because isolated ecosystems contribute to species variability, especially oceanic island ecosystems, the present work focused on the study of the Bartonella species and haplotypes in Lanzarote and El Hierro, two Canary islands with evident bioclimatic differences between them. A total of 123 rodents and 110 fleas from two islands were screened for the presence of Bartonella by PCR analysis of the gltA and nuoG genes. The overall prevalence was 5.7% in rodents and 20.4% in fleas. A total of seven gltA-haplotypes was found in both rodents and fleas, belonging to the species Bartonella mastomydis and Bartonella tribocorum in Lanzarote, and to Bartonella rochalimae and Bartonella elizabethae in El Hierro, as well as recently described species Bartonella kosoyi in both islands. Besides, potential co-infections were detected based on the nuoG analysis. Further, Xenopsylla cheopis was the only flea species identified. Our study shows that isolated ecosystems such as the Canary Islands lead to the appearance of new Bartonella haplotypes along different biotopes, with diverse flea species involved in the spreading of the pathogen being of great relevance due to the zoonotic potential of the species found.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; Haplotypes; Insect Vectors; Mice; Phylogeny; Rats; Spain; Xenopsylla
PubMed: 33207054
DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12396 -
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases... Aug 2015Bartonella henselae commonly involves the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), and its most common presentation is lymphadenitis. Rarely, it can cause isolated... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Bartonella henselae commonly involves the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), and its most common presentation is lymphadenitis. Rarely, it can cause isolated osteomyelitis. We present a case of a 3 year old with constitutional symptoms and new onset of limp. Previously reported cases of osteomyelitis due to B. henselae are also reviewed here, keeping the index case in mind.
METHODS
We conducted a Medline search using MeSH subject headings Bartonella and osteomyelitis, limited to humans.
RESULTS
The index case is a 3-year-old female who had a subacute presentation with new-onset leg pain and fever. Subsequent imaging demonstrated osteomyelitis of the acetabulum. Multiple diagnostic attempts were unsuccessful, and the patient did not respond to empiric therapy. Despite indeterminate serology, the diagnosis of Bartonella osteomyelitis was eventually confirmed by PCR on bone biopsy of the lesion. The literature search revealed 48 publications, which were reduced to 28 when limiting articles to the English language and the pediatric population. After a report of 36 pediatric cases in 2007, there have been an additional 12 pediatric cases since 1998. Generally, these patients had a subacute presentation with relatively mild constitutional symptoms. Most commonly, bone involvement occurred as osteolytic lesions of the axial skeleton. Of the total 48 cases reported, only four reported involvement of the axial skeleton.
CONCLUSION
We present the first case, to our knowledge, of pediatric osteomyelitis of the pelvis due to B. henselae with indeterminate serologic and positive PCR results. Bartonella osteomyelitis should be included in the differential diagnosis when typical pathogens are not identified or if the patient is slow to respond to standard therapies. The sensitivity of tissue PCR for Bartonella osteomyelitis is now better than the current gold standard of serology, and new management guidelines may need to reflect this.
Topics: Acetabulum; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Bartonella henselae; Biopsy; Child, Preschool; Female; Fever; Humans; Lymphadenitis; Osteomyelitis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rifampin; Sensitivity and Specificity; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26273806
DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1758 -
Parasites & Vectors Oct 2021Bartonella spp. are emerging pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors, possibly including ticks. We have investigated signs of bartonellosis in Swedish patients with...
BACKGROUND
Bartonella spp. are emerging pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors, possibly including ticks. We have investigated signs of bartonellosis in Swedish patients with presumed tick-bite exposure and symptom duration of at least 6 months.
METHODS
Serological testing for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana was performed in 224 patients. Symptoms, tick exposure, evidence of co-infection and previous treatments were evaluated. Seropositive patients were compared to a matched group (twofold larger and negative serology) from the same study cohort.
RESULTS
Seroprevalence was 7% for B. henselae and 1% for B. quintana, with one patient testing positive to both agents. Tick bites were reported by 63% of the patients in the seropositive group and 88% in the seronegative group and presumed tick exposure was more common in the seronegative group. Animal contact was equally common in both groups, along with reported symptoms. The most common symptoms were fatigue, muscular symptoms, arthralgia and cognitive symptoms. Exposure to co-infections was evenly distributed in the seropositive and seronegative groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies to Bartonella were more common in this cohort of patients than in cohorts of healthy Swedish blood donors in previous studies but lower than those in blood donors from southern Europe. Positive Bartonella serology was not linked to any specific symptom, nor to (suspected) tick-bite exposure.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Bartonella; Bartonella Infections; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serologic Tests; Sweden; Tick Bites; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Young Adult
PubMed: 34641972
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05043-3