BARTONELLA
BARTONELLA
Characteristics
- Gram -
- Pleomorphic rod
- Motile
- Non-spore forming
- Non-encapsulated
- Obligate aerobic
- Facultative intracellular
Bartonella henselae
Characteristics
- Obligate pathogen
Reservoirs
- Humans (not normal flora)
- Animals (primarily cats)
Transmission
- Zoonotic
- Vectorial (fleas)
Toxins
- None in particular
Diseases
1. Cat Scratch Disease
- A single purulent papular lesion at the site of initial infection, low grade fever and local lymphadenomegaly
- Spontaneously resolves in < 3 months
- caused by Bartonella henselae infection of the skin
- May progress to bacillary angiomatosis and/or bacillary peliosis
2. Bacillary Angiomatosis
- Cystic congested vascular proliferations in the skin and mucous membranes.
- Primarily occurs in immunocompromized.
- Caused by Bartonella henselae infection of vascular endothelium.
3. Bacillary Peliosis
- Cystic congested vascular proliferations in the liver and spleen
- Primarily occurs in immunocompromized
- Caused by Bartonella henselae infection of vascular endothelium
Treatment
- Tetracyclines in conjunction with surgical drainage (if cat scratch disease)
- Tetracyclines (if bacillary angiomatosis and/or bacillary peilosis)
Bartonella quintana
Characteristics
Obligate pathogen
Reservoirs
Humans (only reservoir, not normal flora)
Transmission
Vectorial (body lice)
Toxins
None in particular
Diseases
1. Acute Trench Fever
- High fever, headache, myalgias (primarily of the calves, back and abdomen) and skin rashes for < 1 week " afebrile period for > 2 weeks " progressively shorter and milder periods of fever and progressively longer afebrile periods until it completely disappears
- Primarily occurs in homeless
- Analogous to relapsing fever
- Caused by Bartonella quintana septicemia
- May progress to chronic trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis and/or bacillary peliosis.
2. Chronic Trench Fever
- Relapsing high fever, headache, myalgias and skin rashes in conjunction with subacute infectous endocarditis, hepatic abscesses and splenic abscesses
- Primarily occurs in immunosuppressed
- Caused by progression of acute trench fever.
3. Bacillary Angiomatosis
4. Bacillary Peliosis
Treatment
- Tetracyclines
- Macrolides