Bartonella henselae

Bartolae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Alphaproteobacteria
Order: Rhizobiales
Family: Bartonellaceae
Genus: Bartonella
Species: B. henselae
Binomial name
Bartonella henselae
(Regnery et al. 1992)

Bartonella henselae, formerly Rochalimæa, is a proteobacterium that can cause bacteremia, endocarditis, bacillary angiomatosis, and peliosis hepatis. It is also the causative agent of cat-scratch disease[1] (bartonellosis) which, as the name suggests, occurs after a cat bite or scratch. The disease is characterized by lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes) and fever.

Peliosis hepatis caused by B. henselae can occur alone or develop with cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis or bacteremia. Patients with peliosis hepatis present with gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, chills, and an enlarged liver and spleen containing blood-filled cavities. This systemic disease is mostly seen in patients infected with HIV and other immunocompromised individuals.

Bartonella henselae is a member of the class of the Bartonella genus, one of the most common types of bacteria in the world. It infects the host cell by sticking to it using the Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesins (TAA).

The presence of bacteria can be detected by a special stain called Warthin-Starry stain, or by a similar silver stain technique performed on infected tissue.

Diagnosis

Bartonella henselae is gram negative rod or bacillus with a polar flagellum. Bartonella henselae can be cultured in a lysis-centrifugation blood culture. The diagnosis is made after a detailed patient history and physical is taken. A hallmark of the infectious process include history of contact with a cat (hence the name cat scratch disease).

Symptoms

Common symptoms:[2]

Treatment

Bartonella henselae (cat scratch disease) infections are usually self-limiting, but can be treated with azithromycin, doxycycline.[3]

See also

References

  1. Jerris RC, Regnery RL (1996). "Will the real agent of cat-scratch disease please stand up?". Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 50: 707–25. doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.50.1.707. PMID 8905096.
  2. "Bartonella Infection (Cat Scratch Disease, Trench Fever, and Carrión’s Disease)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 29 November 2012.
  3. Bartonellosis~treatment at eMedicine

External Links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.