Archive for the ‘Bartonella’ Category

Clinical Manifestations Associated with Bartonella Henselae Infection in a Tropical Region

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33021197/

Clinical Manifestations Associated with Bartonella henselae Infection in a Tropical Region

Sze Yen Tay 1, Kevin Freeman 1, Robert Baird 1
Affiliations expand

Abstract

Bartonella henselae is a zoonotic Gram-negative Bacillus associated with self-limited regional lymphadenopathy. In recent decades, an expanding spectrum of clinical manifestations has been described, in part, due to improved diagnostics. However, updated epidemiological data are sparse. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of 31 patients with B. henselae infection older than 15 years from 2005 to 2019, in the tropical Top End of Australia. Our annual disease incidence of 1.3 cases per 100,000 population is lower than that in the national database surveillances in the United States, but the hospitalization incidence of 0.9 per 100,000 population in our region is higher than those reported in the literature, with an average length of stay of 9 days. Patients were more commonly male, aboriginal, and aged less than 14 years (median age: 7 years), living in a rural setting with presentation during our monsoon season.

The disease spectrum included:

  • lymph node disease (74%)
  • organ peliosis
  • endocarditis
  • cutaneous lesions
  • parapharyngeal abscess
  • parotitis
  • neurologic and ocular syndromes

Lymph node disease was far commoner in children than the more serious systemic B. henselae infections associated with adults (P = 0.074).

Although no deaths were reported, significant morbidities were observed. Two endocarditis cases presented with glomerulonephritis, and hematological and neurological features mimicking vasculitis, and consequently received immunosuppressants. One case was only diagnosed after representation with serial embolic strokes.

Given the heterogeneity of disease manifestations with nonspecific symptoms and significant consequences, a timely and accurate diagnosis is needed to avoid unnecessary treatments or interventions.

___________________

**Comment**

Please note the endocarditis, which we are told is “rare” with Lyme disease. Bartonella can also bethe causative agent, which many doctors are also not looking for or educated on.

Bartonella mimicking vasculitis has also been seen:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/03/case-of-cerebral-vasculitis-due-to-neurobartonellosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/01/05/bartonella-endocarditis-masquerading-as-systemic-vasculitis-with-rapidly-progressive-glomerulonephritis/

The HPV vaccine has also caused vasculitis:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/16/gardasil-vasculitis-msids/

Category:

Bartonella, research

Lyme & Tick-born Disease Symptom Checker

https://igenex.com/tick-talk/symptom-checker  (Go here for Symptom Checker)

Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Symptom Checker

iu-90

If you’ve been sick and aren’t getting better, use this IGeneX symptom checker to determine your likelihood of having Lyme disease or other associated tick-borne illnesses.

The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Symptom Checker is for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. By using this website and the Symptom Checker, you agree that this website and the Symptom Checker is not intended to and does not replace the advice of your own physician or other medical professional and that this website does not constitute the practice of any medical or other professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You are solely responsible for your own health care decisions regarding the use of this website and the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Symptom Checker and your use is entirely at your own risk. You should consult a medical professional for all questions or concerns you may have relating to your health. If this is an emergency in the United States, call 911.

______________________

**Comment**

A very helpful online quiz. You can also read about common symptoms for Lyme disease, Babesia, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Rickettsiosis.

My only caution is that there are other symptoms omitted from this quiz. My own case is a perfect example.

All my initial symptoms were gynecological and I believe strongly were my first signs of Lyme/MSIDS infection, obtained from my husband who is also infected. You can read about that here: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/24/pcos-lyme-my-story/

Those infected congenitally will also find fault with this quiz which is why you need to see an experienced Lyme literate physician.

It is quite common to have an initial 90 minute appointment with these ILADS trained doctors as you fill out medical history forms going back to infancy. The doctor then discusses these with you to further ascertain the potential of early infection (perhaps in utero). Often, many health issues can be traced back to infancy if you were infected congenitally. For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/19/33-years-of-documentation-of-maternal-child-transmission-of-lyme-disease-and-congenital-lyme-borreliosis-a-review/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/11/gestational-lyme-other-tick-borne-diseases-dr-jones/

While sexual transmission of Lyme/MSIDS has not been admitted to by ‘authorities,’ congenital transmission recently has been:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/02/01/cdc-website-updated-today-possibility-of-mother-to-fetus-transmission-of-lyme-disease/

It is also quite common for ‘authorities’ to first admit something is ‘rare’ only to have to admit later it’s more common than first thought.  This is their modus operandi.  For years I’ve watched them state Lyme doesn’t exist in certain geographical locations because the ticks that transmit it aren’t there, only to have to update that information later on. This has happened repeatedly.  But before the information gets updated, infected patients are told “it’s all in their heads,” left to rot, and are denied treatment.  These patients only go on to worsen, making their cases far more difficult to treat:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/09/21/its-all-in-your-head-until-finally-a-lyme-diagnosis/

Rather than admit a patient could be infected, despite prior findings in the literature or of ticks in certain locations, patients are handed from doctor to doctor like a football, and are more likely to be given an anti-depressant than life-saving antimicrobials.

This must end.  Using entomology maps to diagnose has hurt patients.  While maps are interesting, they should never keep patients from getting diagnosed.

For the Horowitz symptom questionnaire, which has been validated:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/symptomlist.pdf  Print, fill out, and tally up the points.  

Just remember that while these checklists are helpful, and in fact probably far better than current testing, they are not perfect.  Lyme/MSIDS is wiley – with waxing and waning symptoms. Your best hope of correct diagnosis and treatment remain in the hands of an experienced Lyme literate doctor, although nothing replaces learning all you can to be a helpful partner in your own healing.

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Tickborne Relapsing Fever

Detection of Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria From Castor Bean Ticks Carried By Italian Pets

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33024565/

Detection of potentially pathogenic bacteria from Ixodes ricinus carried by pets in Tuscany, Italy

Valentina Chisu 1, Cipriano Foxi 1, Gabriella Masu 1, Barbara D’ Amaddio 2, Giovanna Masala 1
Affiliations expand

Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: Ticks are vectors of disease-causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy.

Methods: The collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR.

Results: PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that

  • 3% of the ticks were PCR-positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA
  • 5 %of ticks were PCR-positive for Bartonella henselae DNA
  • 46% of ticks were PCR-positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA
  • None of the examined ticks was PCR-positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA

Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.

____________________

**Comment**

Ixodes ricinus, aka the castor bean tick is considered a  European species of tick that can transmit the following:

Now, there is the potential of two strains of Chlamydia to be added the growing list, with nearly half of the ticks in the study carrying it.

What does this mean to patients?  Good question.  We may never know because researchers are too busy studying ‘climate change,’ to have time for such silly endeavors as uncovering the effects of polymicrobial illness on patients.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of ticks carrying chlamydia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/10/07/chlamydia-like-organisms-found-in-ticks/

Here, researchers identify chlamydia along with other pathogens in Alzheimer’s:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/09/researchers-identify-herpes-1-chlamydia-pneumoniae-several-types-of-spirochaete-as-major-causes-of-alzheimers/

CHLAMYDIA IS BEST DEFINED FROM THE LATIN WORD: CLOAK. YEP. ANOTHER STEALTH PATHOGEN.

Great read on the types of chlamydia:  https://articles.mercola.com/chlamydia/types.aspx The first two are mentioned in the abstract:

  • Chlamydia trachomatis can be passed from one person to another via unprotected sexual intercourse. Pain English: this is a STD.
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), a nonsexually transmitted disease that infects the lungs and causes bacterial pneumonia.
  • Chlamydia psittaci is another chlamydia strain that can lead to a rare condition called psittacosis, aka “parrot fever.”

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/19/first-study-showing-borrelia-chlamydia-mixed-biofilms-in-infected-human-skin-tissues  Excerpt:

IN SUMMARY, OUR STUDY IS THE FIRST TO SHOW BORRELIA–CHLAMYDIA MIXED BIOFILMS IN INFECTED HUMAN SKIN TISSUES, WHICH RAISES THE QUESTIONS OF WHETHER THESE HUMAN PATHOGENS HAVE DEVELOPED A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP FOR THEIR MUTUAL SURVIVAL.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/19/are-current-tick-prevention-methods-for-dogs-working/  Great resources within link for tick prevention methods

Category:

Bartonella, research, Rickettsia, Ticks

Transmission of Bartonella Within Rhipicephalus Sanguineus: Data on Potential Vector Role of the Tick

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33001978/

. 2020 Oct 1;14(10):e0008664.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008664.Online ahead of print.

Transmission of Bartonella henselae within Rhipicephalus sanguineus: Data on the Potential Vector Role of the Tick

Wittawat Wechtaisong1, Sarah I Bonnet2, Yi-Yang Lien1, Shih-Te Chuang3, Yi-Lun Tsai1
Affiliations expand

Free article

Abstract

Bartonella henselae is a fastidious intraerythrocytic, gram-negative bacteria that causes cat scratch disease in humans. Ixodes ricinus has been confirmed to be a competent vector of B. henselae, and some indirect evidences from clinical cases and epidemiological studies also suggested that some other tick species, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, may transmit the bacteria. B. henselae has been detected in R. sanguineus but no experimental investigations have been performed to evaluate the vector competency of this tick species regarding B. henselae transmission.

To this end, this work aimed to assess the transstadial transmission of B. henselae between larvae and nymphs of R. sanguineus as well as transmission by nymphs infected at the larval stage. Four hundred B. henselae negative larvae were fed with B. henselae-infected blood by using an artificial membrane feeding system. After five days of feeding, B. henselae was detected by PCR in 57.1% (8/14) of engorged larval pools, 66.7% (4/6) of semi-engorged larval pools, and 66.7% (2/3) of larval feces pools. After molting, B. henselae DNA was also detected in 10% (1/10) of nymph pools, but not in tick feces. After a pre-fed step of nymphs infected at the larval stage on non-infected blood meal, B. henselae was detected by PCR in blood sample from the feeder, but no Bartonella colonies could be obtained from culture. These findings showed that B. henselae could be transstadial transmitted from R. sanguineus larvae to nymphs, and also suggest that these nymphs may retransmitted the bacteria through the saliva during their blood meal. This is the first study that validated the artificial membrane feeding system for maintaining R. sanguineus tick colony. It shows the possibility of transstadial transmission of B. henselae from R. sanguineus larvae to nymphs.

___________________

**Comment**

Ixodes rincinus, aka the castor bean tick is considered a European species of hard bodied tick. Please remember that ticks don’t understand geographical borders and are continually being found in places they shouldn’t be:  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors/facts/tick-factsheets/ixodes-ricinus

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

The castor bean tick is known to transmit:

  • Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. causing Lyme borreliosis
  • tick-borne encephalitis virus
  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
  • Francisella tularensis causing Tularaemia
  • Rickettsia helvetica 
  • Rickettsia monacensis
  • Babesia divergens 
  • Babesia microti responsible for Babesiosis
  • Louping ill virus 
  • Tribec virus
Please note that Bartonella isn’t on this list because the fact sheet, written in 2014, needs to be updated.  
 
  • Bartonella henselae

The article also mentions that Rhipicephalus sanguineus, aka, the brown dog tick, kennel tick or pan tropical tick, (found worldwide) may also transmit Bartonella as it carries it. Further studies are needed to prove vector competence:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/brown_dog_tick.htm

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

Category:

Bartonella, research, Ticks, Transmission

Bartonella Clarridgeiae Found in Patient With Aortic Root Abscess & Endocarditis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32974498/

Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis

Julie M J Logan 1, Jessica L Hall 2, Vicki J Chalker 1, Brian O’Connell 3, Richard J Birtles 2

Free PMC article

Abstract

Introduction: Bartonella species are increasingly recognized as agents of culture-negative endocarditis. However, to date, almost all human cases have been associated with two members of the genus, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. B. henselae infections are zoonotic, with domestic cats serving as reservoir hosts for the pathogen. Bartonella clarridgeiae also exploits cats as reservoir hosts, but its zoonotic potential is far less established.

Case presentation: A 34-year-old male presented with palpitations after a history of aortic incompetence. During surgery for an aortic valve replacement, two vegetations were found on the aortic valve. PCR analysis of the vegetation demonstrated the presence of Bartonella species and so the patient was treated post-operatively with ceftriaxone and doxycycline, making a good recovery. Further PCR-based analysis of the patient’s aortic vegetation confirmed the presence of B. clarridgeiae .

Conclusion: This report expands the number of Bartonella species associated with endocarditis and provides clear evidence that B. clarridgeiae should be considered a zoonotic pathogen.

_________________

**Comment**

Aortic root abscess is a life-threatening complication of endocarditis.  In this case, caused by Bartonella clarridgeiae, a strain of Bartonella found to cause cat scratch disease going back to 1997 by none other than Dr. Breitshwerdt, after a veterinarian was bitten on the finger by a cat:  https://jcm.asm.org/content/35/7/1813

Important excerpt:

Within 3 weeks he developed headache, fever, and left axillary lymphadenopathy. Initial blood cultures from the cat and veterinarian were sterile. Repeat cultures from the cat grew Bartonella-like organisms with lophotrichous flagella.

This is a reminder that Bartonella, similar to Lyme (borrelia) is fastidious and hard to find.  Most doctors quit after an initial test returns negative.  In this case the patient was lucky enough to be under the observation of a veterinarian who understands this fact and cultured repeatedly.  The issue of strain variation is important as well.  The test is only as good as what it is testing for.

How many patients have had endocarditis caused by Bartonella species that either aren’t considered pathogenic yet OR weren’t picked up in a singular test?  

Category:

Bartonella, Heart Issues, research