Bartonellosis

Figure 1 Bartonella henselae bacteria. Photo courtesy of Vulgaris-Medical

Bartonella infection is a very active area of scientific research with many new human pathogens added to this genus over the last fifteen years.  Routine screening focuses on only the most commonly known bacteria Bartonella henselae,  the causative agent of cat-scratch fever.  Bartonella  is primarily transmitted by cat scratches and flea bites.  It can also be transmitted from the bite of a tick.  Bartonella is an intracellular, gram-negative bacterium, and the infection can become chronic.

Involvement of practically every organ has been reported.  There are a variety of symptoms associated with Bartonella, including, but not limited to, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, encephalopathy,  inflammation of the retina and optic nerve, restlessness, myalgias, liver and/or spleen involvement, abdominal pain, infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome, and granulomatous hepatitis.  

Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical signs and symptoms and confirmatory lab tests.

Antibiotics are the treatment of choice.

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