https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30124532/
Ocular manifestations of bartonellosis.
Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug 18. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000522. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the systemic and ocular complications of Bartonella spp. infections specifically cat scratch disease, encompassing epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics, ophthalmic imagining, and treatment.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown that ocular manifestations occur in approximately 4.4% of cat scratch disease patients. The annual prevalence is lower than previously reported to be approximately 12 500 cases annually. Mainstay treatment continues to be oral antibiotics with and without corticosteroids and is dependent on associated systemic manifestations, age, and patient immune status. More recently anti-VEGF agents have been used for complications such as cystoid macular edema and choroidal neovascularization.
SUMMARY: Bartonella spp. infections continue to be a common cause uveitis with ophthalmic manifestations ranging from neuroretinits, vascular occlusions, to choroidal granulomas. Review of associated risk factors including contact with feline reservoirs will aid in recognition and diagnosis of this disease entity. Laboratory diagnostics continue to improve to help with the diagnosis of this entity.
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**Comment**
Thankful that more is coming out on how Bartonella affects the eyes. This crossed my desk just last year: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/23/opthalmic-manifestations-of-bartonella-infection/
As well as these: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/21/bartonella-and-neuroretinitis/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/06/ocular-bartonellosis/
What ISN’T coming across my desk is the fact many feel strongly that ticks carry and transmit Bartonella. Mainstream medicine & researchers still mostly deny this to the demise of patients. Bartonella alone is a formidable foe, but couple it with Lyme and other viruses and tick borne infections and you have a seriously ill patient on your hands. Regardless if it is transmitted by ticks, there is also the potential of reactivating latent infections within the body when bitten by a tick. So if the Bart is hanging around but the patient is asymptomatic, a tick bite could activate the latent Bart and cause a hail storm of symptoms. In my experience testing is horrific in this area and wise doctors treat patients based upon clinical presentation.
Research is required in this area. Doctors need to know about the potential for this pathogen to be in the mix of tick borne illnesses. This is another reason why the mono therapy of doxycycline rarely works in patients. They are often dealing with more than one pathogen/illness.
Until this changes people will not improve.
According to this doctor, Bartonella is the new Lyme: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/05/07/fox-news-bartonella-is-the-new-lyme-disease/
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 