Among Nancy P.'s many infections were two species of Bartonella.
Nancy P. (LB is dedicated to Nancy's memory) was never bitten nor scratched by a cat. She WAS a gardener, a social worker, a normal, wonderful human being who certainly did NOT live in "unsanitary" conditions. I hate the way these diseases are described. Way too many of the descriptions depict any person unfortunate enough to become ill with these infections as someone living in crowded, filthy conditions. Not true.
Nancy had Bartonella henselae, and Bartonella quintana.
Anyway, here's a little scoop on Bartonella. (Carried by a cat flea, but also vectored by Ticks.)
tinyurl.com/ykjan8jBartonellosis comprises infections caused by newly emerging pathogens in the genus Bartonella. In 1909, A. L. Barton described organisms that adhered to RBCs. The name Bartonia, later Bartonella bacilliformis, was used for the only member of the group identified before 1993. Rochalimaea (named for Rocha-Lima), a similar group, were recently combined with Bartonella. Although these organisms were originally thought to be rickettsiae, Bartonella bacteria can be grown on artificial media, unlike rickettsiae.
At least a dozen species belong to the genus Bartonella. Three Bartonella species are currently considered important causes of human disease, but other significant human pathogens in this genus will undoubtedly be found in the future. In one study, serum specimens from 114 patients hospitalized with a febrile illness were tested with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using rodent and human Bartonella pathogens; 5 patients had high-titer seroconversion to rodent-associated Bartonella.1
B bacilliformis causes Oroya fever and verruga peruana. Bartonella henselae causes catscratch disease (CSD) and peliosis of the liver (often called bacillary peliosis). Bartonella quintana causes trench fever. Both B henselae and B quintana may cause bacillary angiomatosis, infections in homeless populations, and infections in patients infected with HIV.
New Bartonella species that may cause human disease include Bartonella vinsonii, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella tamiae, Bartonella rochalimae, and Bartonella elizabethae. Several of these other species are found in animals.
For additional information on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, see Medscape’s Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases Resource Center.
Bartonellosis comprises infections caused by newly emerging pathogens in the genus Bartonella. In 1909, A. L. Barton described organisms that adhered to RBCs. The name Bartonia, later Bartonella bacilliformis, was used for the only member of the group identified before 1993. Rochalimaea (named for Rocha-Lima), a similar group, were recently combined with Bartonella. Although these organisms were originally thought to be rickettsiae, Bartonella bacteria can be grown on artificial media, unlike rickettsiae.
At least a dozen species belong to the genus Bartonella. Three Bartonella species are currently considered important causes of human disease, but other significant human pathogens in this genus will undoubtedly be found in the future. In one study, serum specimens from 114 patients hospitalized with a febrile illness were tested with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using rodent and human Bartonella pathogens; 5 patients had high-titer seroconversion to rodent-associated Bartonella.1
B bacilliformis causes Oroya fever and verruga peruana. Bartonella henselae causes catscratch disease (CSD) and peliosis of the liver (often called bacillary peliosis). Bartonella quintana causes trench fever. Both B henselae and B quintana may cause bacillary angiomatosis, infections in homeless populations, and infections in patients infected with HIV.
New Bartonella species that may cause human disease include Bartonella vinsonii, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella tamiae, Bartonella rochalimae, and Bartonella elizabethae. Several of these other species are found in animals.
For additional information on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, see Medscape’s Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases Resource Center.
Catscratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative rod. It is associated with a self-limited subacute solitary or regional lymphadenopathy. Patients with catscratch disease usually have a history of sustaining a scratch or bite from a cat or kitten.
Pathophysiology
The hallmark of catscratch disease is regional adenopathy proximal to the site of inoculation.
In immunocompetent patients, Bartonella infection causes a granulomatous and suppurative response. In immunocompromised patients, the response can be vasculoproliferative with neovascularization.
Bartonella is able to promote angioproliferation through adhesion A, which is observed in bacillary angiomatosis, peliosis, and verruga peruana.
Nine outer membrane proteins (OMP) of B henselae have been identified. The 43-kD OMP is a major protein capable of binding endothelial cells; further investigation is needed to clarify its role in the pathogenesis of catscratch disease