Archive for the ‘Bartonella’ Category

Disseminated Bartonella Visualized by PET/CT & MRI

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/9/1/25

Diagnostics 2019, 9(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010025

Disseminated Bartonella henselae Infection Visualized by [18F]FDG-PET/CT and MRI

Marie Norredam 1,* , Andreas Knudsen 2, Carsten Thomsen 3and Lothar Wiese 2

Published: 1 March 2019
Abstract
We describe the clinical course of a 24-year old male with Crohn’s disease in immunosuppressive therapy admitted with a 6-week history of fever, weight loss, night sweat, and general malaise. The patient received extensive workup for a fever of unknown origin and received empiric antibiotics. Workup with Fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET/CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with intravenous contrast showed multifocal ostitis of the columna and os sacrum, as well as abscesses in m. iliopsoas and m. iliacus and affection of the retroperitoneum, liver, and spleen. Initially, malignancy was suspected, but a subsequent liver biopsy showed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and a later polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed Bartonella henselae. The patient had relevant exposure from housecats. He was treated with Doxycycline and Rifampicin for 12 weeks resulting in complete recovery. This case is, to our knowledge, a rare example of disseminated infection with Bartonella henselae visualized on both [18F]FDG-PET/CT and MRI. View Full-Text
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**Comment**
The Cat’s beginning to get out of the bag regarding Bartonella.  Prepare yourself to see a whole lot more of this. I’m thankful that the authors stated that this case was to their knowledge a rare example; however, Bartonella has flown under the radar for so long chances are quite high there is much more of this going on. Similarly to Lyme and other coinfections, testing that relies on serology is abysmal and many remain undiagnosed.
We’ve always been told that folks that contract Bartonella need a history of cat exposure or other animals and have suppressed immune systems.  Please know, many completely healthy individuals with NO cat exposure can have disseminated Bartonella.  For examples of this:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/02/skin-inflammation-nodules-letting-the-cat-out-of-the-bag/  After the study I list 6 cases.
Dr. Ericson’s work has shown Bartonella virtually everywhere in the human body:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/27/advanced-imaging-found-bartonella-around-pic-line/  Slides in link
In my experience Bartonella is as bad if not worse than Lyme which gets all the press. Authorities do not even consider it with Lyme patients but nearly everyone I work with has it along with Lyme and often Babesia as well as Mycoplasma and various viruses.  Until the polymicrobial aspect is acknowledged and treated, we are doomed as patients.
Yes, Martha, Lone Star ticks are in Wisconsin as well:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/10/lone-star-ticks-in-wisconsin/

 

Category:

Bartonella, research, Testing, Treatment

Reducing Bartonella in Cats Utilizing Flea & Tick Collar

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30709361

2019 Feb 1;12(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3257-y.

Effectiveness of a 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin polymer matrix collar in reducing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in privately owned cats.

Greco G1, Brianti E2, Buonavoglia C3, Carelli G3, Pollmeier M4, Schunack B4, Dowgier G3,5, Capelli G6, Dantas-Torres F3,7, Otranto D3.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and the rare Bartonella koehlerae are zoonotic pathogens, with cats being regarded as the main reservoir hosts. The spread of the infection among cats occurs mainly via fleas and specific preventive measures need to be implemented. The effectiveness of a 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin polymer matrix collar (Seresto®, Bayer Animal Health), registered to prevent flea and tick infestations, in reducing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in privately owned cats, was assessed in a prospective longitudinal study.

METHODS:

In March-May 2015 [Day 0 (D0)], 204 privately-owned cats from the Aeolian Islands (Sicily) were collared (G1, n = 104) or left as controls (G2, n = 100). The bacteraemia of Bartonella spp. was assessed at enrolment (D0) and study closure (D360) by PCR and DNA sequencing both prior to and after an enrichment step, using Bartonella alpha proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM).

RESULTS:

A total of 152 cats completed the study with 3 in G1 and 10 in G2 being positive for Bartonella spp. Bartonella henselae genotype I ZF1 (1.35%) and genotype II Fizz/Cal-1 (6.76%) as well as B. clarridgeiae (5.41%) were detected in cats of G2. Bartonella clarridgeiae was the only species detected in G1. Based on the yearly crude incidence of Bartonella spp. infection (i.e. 3.85% in G1 and 13.51% in G2; P = 0.03) the Seresto® collar achieved a preventative efficacy of 71.54%. The incidence of Bartonella spp. infection was more frequent in flea-infested cats (6/33, 18.18%) than in uninfested ones (7/112, 5.88%) (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS:

Cats living in the Aeolian Islands are exposed to B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae. The Seresto® collar provided significant risk reduction against Bartonella spp. infection in outdoor cats under field conditions. Such a preventative tool could be a key contribution for decreasing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in cats and thus ultimately to humans.

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**Comment**

Bartonella is a huge player with Lyme/MSIDS, and far more than cats & fleas are involved.  Many healthy people without cat exposure have contracted Bartonella:  

 https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/23/chest-imaging-of-cat-scratch-disease-in-2-year-old-immunocompetent-baby-with-no-history-of-cat-contact/  Healthy 2 year old with no history of cat exposure.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/10/bartonella-henselae-neuroretinitis-in-patients-without-cat-scratch  All the patients denied a history of a cat or any animal contact, or of having CSD findings.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/05/cat-scratch-disease-in-a-1-5-year-old-girl-case-report/  Healthy 1.5-year-old girl who was seen in hospital for the sparing use of her left arm when crawling. Tested positively for Bartonella henselae.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/04/03/encephalopathy-in-adult-with-cat-scratch-disease/  Case of a 53-year-old healthy man, presenting with confusion. Serology confirmed Bartonella henselae infection.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/09/transverse-myelitis-guillain-barre-associated-with-bartonella/  Healthy 10 year old girl had coexisting transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) related to infection with Bartonella henselae.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/05/skull-infection-due-to-bartonella/  While cats are implicated, this 3 year old had no significant medical history, presented at emergency department for a 2-week history of worsening scalp lump with redness.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/04/bartonella-erythema-nodosum-atypical-presentations/  All immunocompetent hosts.

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, research

High Prevalence of Bartonella in Spanish Veterinarians With Non-Specific Symptoms: Headache, Insomnia, Fatigue, & Memory Problems

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5678790/

. 2017; 10: 553.
Published online 2017 Nov 7. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2483-z
PMCID: PMC5678790
PMID: 29116007

Prevalence of Bartonella spp. by culture, PCR and serology, in veterinary personnel from Spain

José A. Oteo,1 Ricardo Maggi,2 Aránzazu Portillo,1 Julie Bradley,3 Lara García-Álvarez,1 Montserrat San-Martín,4Xavier Roura,5 and Edward Breitschwerdtcorresponding author3

Abstract

Background

The genus Bartonella includes fastidious, facultative intracellular bacteria mainly transmitted by arthropods and distributed among mammalian reservoirs. Bartonella spp. implicated as etiological agents of zoonoses are increasing. Apart from the classical Bartonella henselae, B. bacilliformis or B. quintana, other species (B. elizabethae, B. rochalimae, B. vinsonii arupensis and B. v. berkhoffii, B. tamiae or B. koehlerae, among others) have also been associated with human and/or animal diseases. Laboratory techniques for diagnosis (culture, PCR assays and serology) usually show lack of sensitivity. Since 2005, a method based on a liquid enrichment Bartonella alphaproteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) followed by PCRs for the amplification of Bartonella spp. has been developed. We aimed to assess culture, molecular and serological prevalence of Bartonella infections in companion animal veterinary personnel from Spain.

Methods

Each of 89 participants completed a questionnaire. Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) using B. vinsonii berkhoffii (genotypes I, II and III), B. henselae, B. quintana and B. koehlerae as antigens were performed. A cut-off of 1:64 was selected as a seroreactivity titer. Blood samples were inoculated into BAPGM and subcultured onto blood agar plates. Bartonella spp. was detected using conventional and quantitative real-time PCR assays and DNA sequencing.

Results

Among antigens corresponding to six Bartonella spp. or genotypes, the lowest seroreactivity was found against B. quintana (11.2%) and the highest, against B. v. berkhoffii genotype III (56%). A total of 27% of 89 individuals were not seroreactive to any test antigen. Bartonella spp. IFA seroreactivity was not associated with any clinical sign or symptom. DNA from Bartonella spp., including B. henselae (n = 2), B. v. berkhoffii genotypes I (n = 1) and III (n = 2), and B. quintana (n = 2) was detected in 7/89 veterinary personnel. PCR and DNA sequencing findings were not associated with clinical signs or symptoms. No co-infections were observed. One of the two B. henselae PCR-positive individuals was IFA seronegative to all tested antigens whereas the other one was not B. henselae seroreactive. The remaining PCR-positive individuals were seroreactive to multiple Bartonella spp. antigens.

Conclusions

High serological and molecular prevalences of exposure to, or infection with, Bartonella spp. were found in companion animal veterinary personnel from Spain. More studies using BAPGM enrichment blood culture and PCR are needed to clarify the finding of Bartonella PCR-positive individuals lacking clinical symptoms.

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**Comment**

While the abstract above doesn’t state this, the results section in the full study states of the 89 veterinary personnel from different regions of Spain:

A high percentage of the participants reported having chronic/ persistent non-specific symptoms such as headache, insomnia, fatigue or memory problems.

Veterinarians & those working with animals are especially at risk for Bartonella.  Spread the word.

More on Bartonella:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/09/13/dr-fox-cat-scratch-fever-warning/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/05/07/fox-news-bartonella-is-the-new-lyme-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/11/29/bartonella-seizures/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/04/03/encephalopathy-in-adult-with-cat-scratch-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/01/04/endocarditis-consider-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/10/neurological-presentations-of-bartonella-henselae-infection/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/23/opthalmic-manifestations-of-bartonella-infection/

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, research, Testing

Impact of Pre-operative Antimicrobial Treatment on Microbiological Findings From Endocardial Specimens in Infective Endocarditis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30680557

2019 Jan 24. doi: 10.1007/s10096-018-03451-5. [Epub ahead of print]

Impact of pre-operative antimicrobial treatment on microbiological findings from endocardial specimens in infective endocarditis.

Halavaara M1, Martelius T2, Järvinen A2, Antikainen J3, Kuusela P3, Salminen US4, Anttila VJ2.

Abstract

Treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) should be initiated promptly. This might hamper the chances to identify the causative organism in blood cultures. Microbiological sampling of infected valve in patients undergoing surgery might identify the causative organism. The impact of pre-operative antimicrobial treatment on the yield of valve samples is not known. This study evaluated the impact of the duration of the pre-operative antibiotic treatment on valve culture and 16S rRNA PCR findings from resected endocardial samples. Patients meeting the modified Duke criteria of definite or possible IE and undergoing valve surgery due to IE during 2011-2016 were included from Southern Finland. Eighty-seven patients were included.

In patients with shorter than 2 weeks of pre-operative antimicrobial treatment, PCR was positive in 91% (n = 42/46) and valve culture in 41% (n = 19/46) of cases. However, in patients who had 2 weeks or longer therapy before operation, PCR was positive in 53% (n = 18/34) and all valve cultures were negative. In 14% of patients, PCR had a diagnostic impact. In blood-culture negative cases (n = 13), PCR could detect the causative organism in ten patients (77%). These included five cases of Bartonella quintana, one Tropheryma whipplei, and one Coxiella burnetii. Long pre-operative antimicrobial treatment was shown to have a negative impact on microbiological tests done on resected endocardial material. After 2 weeks of therapy, all valve cultures were negative, but PCR was positive in half of the cases. PCR aided in diagnostic work-up, especially in blood culture negative cases.

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**Comment**

The dilemma “to treat or not to treat” because of hampered ability to subsequently test for organisms is real; however, the risk for not treating is potentially death.

The big point for Lyme/MSIDS patients; however, is the fact they found Bartonella and Coxiella burnettii, also known as Q-fever in patients with infective carditis.

https://www.columbia-lyme.org/q-fever  Those working with farm animals are at greater risk through inhalation or ingestion of soil or animal waste particles; however, ticks do transmit it.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms include high fever, headache, sore throat, malaise, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, nonproductive cough, pneumonia, and hepatitis. Neurological manifestations occur in about one percent of patients and could develop into meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and/or peripheral neuropathy. Endocarditis, infection of the heart valves, is the most serious manifestation. However, it is usually found in patients with preexisting valvular disease. Unfortunately, the mortality rate is increasingly high, currently at 65 percent.

Go here for a nifty table with the various coinfections, vectors, causative agent, endemic area, and symptoms: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/co-infections/other-co-infections/

You will note that the brown dog tick, Rocky Mountain Wood tick, and the Lone Star Tick are all vectors and Q-fever is endemic throughout the U.S.  Treatment is doxycycline.

https://www.wrair.army.mil/Documents/TropMed/(18)%20Lyme%20and%20Rickettsial%20Disease_LTC%20Waterman.pdf  This document states endocarditis caused by Q fever may be chronic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88923/  Interestingly, even as far back as the 30’s, Q fever was noted to have properties of both viruses and rickettsiae. This document states Q fever may occur in patients without any animal contact due to it’s ability to be spread by wind.  The same document states human Q fever cases have occurred in the following:

  • An OB after an abortion on an infected woman
  • transplacental transmission
  • autopsies
  • intradermal inoculation
  • blood transfusion
  • tick bite
  • sexually in infected mice
  • possibly from infected dogs
  • infected cats

The real kicker on that last one was the 1984 report of 13 people who developed febrile respiratory disease by playing poker in a room where a cat had delivered kittens.  Abstract here:

Kosatsky T. Household outbreak of Q-fever pneumonia related to a parturient cat. Lancet. 1984;ii:1447–1449. [PubMed]

Symptoms were:

  • bradycardia (slow heart rate)
  • fever
  • palatal petechiae (red or purple spots on mouth palate)
  • rapidly enlarging bilateral pulmonary infiltrates (fluid in both lungs)

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Heart Issues, research, Testing, Treatment

Study Shows Ticks PCR Positive for Bartonella and Two Strains of Borrelia

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877959X18302942

Regional prevalences of Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia bissettiae, and Bartonella henselae in Ixodes affinis, Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis in the USA

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of Borrelia and Bartonella species in Ixodes spp. ticks collected from 16 USA states. Genus PCR amplification and sequence analysis of Bartonella and Borrelia16SsRNA-23SsRNA intergenic regions were performed on DNA extracted from 929 questing adult ticks (671 Ixodes scapularis, 155 Ixodes affinis, and 103 Ixodes pacificus).

Overall, 129/929 (13.9%) Ixodes ticks were PCR positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, 48/929 (5.1%) for B. bissettiae whereas 23/929 (2.5%) were PCR positive for a Bartonella henselae. Borrelia bissettiae or B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. henselae co-infections were found in I. affinis from North Carolina at a rate of 4.5%; in a single I. scapularis from Minnesota, but not in I. pacificus. For both bacterial genera, PCR positive rates were highly variable depending on geographic location and tick species, with Ixodes affinis (n = 155) collected from North Carolina, being the tick species with the highest prevalence’s for both Borrelia spp. (63.2%) and B. henselae (10.3%). Based on the results of this and other published studies, improved understanding of the enzootic cycle, transmission dynamics, and vector competence of Ixodes species (especially I. affinis) for transmission of Borrelia spp. and B. henselae should be a public health research priority.

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**Comment**

One of the most understated studies yet.  Research on transmission and vector competence is screaming to be done – especially for Bartonella as mainstream medicine still thinks it’s a simple disease caused by the scratch of a cat that only affects immunocompromised people.  They also insist the black-legged tick is the sole perp for Lyme.  Both of these tenets are being shattered on a daily basis.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/10/bartonella-henselae-neuroretinitis-in-patients-without-cat-scratch/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/23/chest-imaging-of-cat-scratch-disease-in-2-year-old-immunocompetent-baby-with-no-history-of-cat-contact/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/05/cat-scratch-disease-in-a-1-5-year-old-girl-case-report/  A 1.5-year-old girl who was seen in hospital for the sparing use of her left arm when crawling.  Tested positively for Bartonella henselae.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/04/03/encephalopathy-in-adult-with-cat-scratch-disease/  Case of a 53-year-old healthy man, presenting with confusion.  Serology confirmed Bartonella henselae infection.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/09/transverse-myelitis-guillain-barre-associated-with-bartonella/  Healthy 10 year old girl had coexisting transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) related to infection with Bartonella henselae.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/05/skull-infection-due-to-bartonella/  A 3-year-old female with a recent history of typical CSD involving lymph nodes who developed osteomyelitis of the skull.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/02/bartonella-langerhans-cell-histiocytosis-cancer/

 

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/16/study-shows-lyme-in-15-species-of-canadian-ticks-6-of-which-bite-humans-numerous-new-bird-species-acting-as-hosts/  Overall, 1,265 ticks consisting of 27 tick species belonging to four genera were collected.  Of the 18 tick species tested, 15 species (83%) were positive for Bbsl and, of these infected ticks, 6 species bite humans.

Two ticks species known to be transmitters of disease (I. affinis and I. minor) were transported into Canada and are actually more important vectors of Bbsl in the southeastern U.S. than the blacklegged tick.

THESE FINDINGS UNDERSCORE THE FACT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO GO AN ENDEMIC AREA TO CONTRACT LYME DISEASE AND ASSOCIATED TICK-BORNE DISEASES. 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Lyme, research, Testing, Ticks