Archive for the ‘Bartonella’ Category

Risk of Transmission of Bartonella via Blood Transfusion – Chile

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29488546

Rev Chilena Infectol. 2017 Dec;34(6):539-543. doi: 10.4067/S0716-10182017000600539.

Prevalence of Bartonella henselae in blood donors and risk of blood transmission in Chile

[Article in Spanish]
Núñez MA1, Contreras K1, Depix MS1, Geoffroy E1, Villagra N2, Mellado S3, Salinas AM1.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Bartonella henselae is the causal agent of cat scratch disease in immunocompetent persons and bacterial angiomatosis in immunocompromised patients. In Chile, the prevalence of antibodies against B. henselae in healthy children and adolescents is 13.3%, in persons with occupational risk 60.5%, and in cats 85.6%. There are no published data regarding the seroprevalence in blood donors in our country, so determining if B. henselae is present in the blood of donors at the time of donation is very important, since this microorganism can survive up to 35 days in the red blood cells stored in a blood bank at 4 °C.

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the prevalence of B. henselae in blood donors.

METHODOLOGY:
140 donor blood samples were analyzed to detect the presence of B. henselae, using the polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS:
13.6% of the blood donors with positive polymerase chain reaction for B. henselae were obtained. The sequence of the amplified fragments showed an identity of over 98% with respect to B. henselae reference sequences.

CONCLUSION:
The risk of blood transmission is due to a country with high B. henselae infection.

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**Comment**

Although this study is a year old, it’s the first time I’ve seen it.  It brings up a very important point in that Bartonella can be transmitted via blood transfusion, and not only in Chile, I might add.  Authorities are still bickering about whether or not it is transmitted via ticks, but there’s no denying many Lyme/MSIDS patients have Bartonella, which points strongly to it being transmitted by ticks.  

It is not a reportable disease so again, nobody truly knows the infection rates.  https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/notifiable/2018/infectious-diseases/

Recently, Babesia, a reportable disease, is being screened for before a blood transfusion.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/07/babesia-tests-approved-by-fda-for-screening-purposes

Bartonella is just as deadly & flies under the radar:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/11/bartonella-henselae-in-children-with-congenital-heart-disease/

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

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/09/bartonella-outbreak-in-homeless/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/02/neurological-and-immunological-dysfunction-in-two-patients-with-bartonella-henselae-bacteremia/

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

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Transmission

PCR of Skin Infections With Eschar on Travelers – Rickettsia Most Detected

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29501703/

Seek and Find! PCR analyses of skin infections in West-European travelers returning from abroad with an eschar.

 Travel Med Infect Dis. 2018.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Skin infections are among the leading causes of diseases in travelers. Diagnosing pathogens could be difficult.

METHOD: We applied molecular assays for the diagnostic of a large collection of skin biopsies and swabs from travelers with suspected skin infections. All samples were tested by qPCR for Coxiella burnetti, Bartonella sp., Rickettsia sp., Borrelia sp., Ehrlichia sp., Tropheryma whipplei, Francisella tularensis, Mycobacteria sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Leishmania spp., Ortho poxvirus and Para poxvirus and then screened for the presence of bacteria by PCR amplification and sequencing, targeting the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS: From January 2009 to January 2017, 100 international travelers presenting with a suspected skin infection were enrolled. We detected 51 patients with an identified pathogen on skin samples. Travelers presenting with eschars were more likely to have a positive PCR sample (n = 44/76, 57.9%) compared to other patients (n = 7/24, 29.2%). Spotted fever group Rickettsia (n = 28) was the most frequently detected pathogens (19 R. africae, 6 R. conorii, 3 R. mongolitimonae); S. aureus were detected in 11 patients; S. pyogenes in 3; Leishmania sp.; M. leprae and B. henselae in 1 patient, respectively.

CONCLUSION: By targeting the most commonly encountered causative agents of travel-related skin infections, our strategy provides a sensitive and rapid diagnostic method.

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Mycoplasma, research, Rickettsia, Tularemia, Viruses

Madagascar Lemurs – 96% Had Babesia, 36% Neoehrlichia, & 14.5% Borrelia

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29477959

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018 Feb 17. pii: S1877-959X(17)30454-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.02.012. [Epub ahead of print]

Molecular surveillance of novel tick-borne organisms in Madagascar’s lemurs.

Qurollo BA1, Larsen PA2, Rakotondrainibe HH3, Mahefarisoa K4, Rajaonarivelo T5, Razafindramanana J3, Breitschwerdt EB1, Junge RE6, Williams CV7.

Abstract
The discovery and characterization of emerging tick-borne organisms are critical for global health initiatives to improve animal and human welfare (One Health). It is possible that unknown tick-borne organisms underlie a subset of undiagnosed illness in wildlife, domesticated species, and humans. Our study lends support to the One Health concept by highlighting the prevalence of three blood-borne organisms in wild lemurs living in close proximity to domesticated species and humans. Previously, our team identified three novel, presumably tick-borne, intravascular organisms, belonging to the genera Babesia, Borrelia, and Neoehrlichia, circulating in two of Madagascar’s lemur species. Here, we extend our previous observation by developing a targeted molecular surveillance approach aimed at determining the prevalence of these organisms in lemurs. Using quantitative PCR, we provide Babesia, Borrelia, and Neoehrlichia prevalence data for 76 individuals comprising four lemur species located in eastern Madagascar. Our results indicate a high prevalence (96%) of Babesia across sampled individuals with lower prevalences for Neoehrlichia (36%) and Borrelia (14.5%). In light of our results, we recommend additional studies of these tick-borne organisms to determine pathogenicity and assess zoonotic potency to other animals and humans in Madagascar.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/01/one-tick-bite-could-put-you-at-risk-for-at-least-6-different-diseases/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/16/tbd-serochip-will-identify-six-tick-borne-pathogens/

 

 

 

Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme, research

Italy – 5 year Tick Survey

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29477960/

A five-year survey of tick species and identification of tick-borne bacteria in Sardinia, Italy.

Authors

Chisu V1, Foxi C2, Mannu R3, Satta G2, Masala G2.

 Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018.

Abstract

Sardinia is a hotspot for studying tick-borne diseases in the Mediterranean region, where cases of notifiable tick-borne diseases are increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of tick-borne bacteria of medical and veterinary importance in ixodid ticks collected from domestic and wild animals, humans, and vegetation from different collection sites in Sardinia. Using standard PCR and sequencing techniques, the presence of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella species, as well as Coxiella burnetii was evaluated. A total of 1619 ticks were morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, R. bursa, R. annulatus, Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Ha. sulcata, Hyalomma lusitanicum, H. marginatum, Ixodes festai (sometimes referred to erroneously as I. ventalloi), and Argas reflexus. Results indicated the presence of several circulating pathogens in Sardinian ticks. DNA of Rickettsia species was detected in 58 out of 1619 (4%) belonging to R. sanguineus s.l., D. marginatus, Ha. punctata, H. marginatum, and I. festai species. Ehrlichia canis DNA was detected in 33 out of 1619 ticks (2%) belonging to R. sanguineus s.l., R. bursa, and Ha. punctata species. A total of 61 out of 1619 (4%) ticks (R. sanguineus s. l., R. bursa, Ha. punctata, and I. festai) tested positive for Anaplasma spp. Coxiella burnetii was detected in 21 out of 1619 (1%) ticks belonging to R. sanguineus s.l., R. bursa, R. annulatus, and H. marginatum species. Five R. sanguineus s.l. and one R. bursa ticks were positive for the presence of Bartonella sp. 16S rRNA gene. Our findings expand the knowledge on tick-borne microorganism repertoires and tick distribution in Sardinia. Tick distribution should be monitored for effective control of these arthropods and the infections they transmit.

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For More:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/01/one-tick-bite-could-put-you-at-risk-for-at-least-6-different-diseases/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/28/lyme-wars-part-5-coinfections/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/01/co-infection-of-ticks-the-rule-rather-than-the-exception/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/16/tbd-serochip-will-identify-six-tick-borne-pathogens/

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Bartonella, Rickettsia, Ticks

Bartonella Outbreak in Homeless

https://patch.com/washington/seattle/3-disease-outbreaks-king-county-put-homeless-risk

3 Disease Outbreaks In King County Put Homeless At RiskFile photo by Neal McNamara/Patch

 

SEATTLE, WA – King County Public Health investigators are looking into outbreaks of three diseases that are especially harmful for the local homeless population – and a fourth outbreak may be emerging.

According to Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officials are seeing a big increase of group A streptococcus infections and shigella, which causes gastrointestinal distress. There’s also a cluster of trench fever cases, a painful illness spread through body lice carrying the bacteria Bartonella quintana. There have been three trench fever cases among the homeless since mid-2017, according to Duchin.

Additionally, Duchin said, the department is monitoring for a possible Hepatitis A outbreak – a type of hepatitis that infects the liver and can be spread through contact with infected feces.

These illnesses are particularly tough on the homeless because they lack access to proper medical care. Hepatitis A, for example, can be prevented by taking a vaccine.

“People who lack permanent housing often also have limited access to medical care, so many people living homeless and with health problems have difficulty getting prompt treatment. Living conditions – like crowding and fewer opportunities for personal hygiene – can contribute to the spread of disease,” Duchin said in a blog post.

King County is working with the state Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and Harborview Medical Center to address the strep problem. The county is also spreading information about the other illnesses through homeless outreach.

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**Comment**

There is conflicting information regarding Bartonella transmission by ticks; however, prudence would err on the side of caution.  Nearly every patient I work with has Bartonella – and I think it is far more prevalent than many think.  Even the CDC states that ticks carry some species of Bart.  In my experience if the CDC acknowledges something, it is far worse in reality.  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/3/09-0443_article

Somehow, Lyme patients are getting Bartonella.

The problem lies in the fact researchers state that the presence of a pathogen in a tick does not imply they can transmit it – and therefore is not epidemiologically important.  They typically do “reviews” of previous studies to only conclude transmission has not been established.

Please know these studies are approximately 10 years old and older.  And again, garbage in, garbage out.  They keep recycling old studies and regurgitating ancient information.

If I had a dime for every time I read the words, “rare,” or “atypical” regarding Lyme/MSIDS, I’d be a rich woman.  Trust me, this stuff isn’t rare.  Just look around.

More on Bartonella: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/  (Checklist found in link)

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/08/09/a-bartonella-story/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/07/finally-rt-pcr-detected-bartonella-henselae-dna-on-tissue-valve/

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

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/08/anemic-dog-found-to-have-bartonella-resolved-with-prolonged-antibiotics/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/02/neurological-and-immunological-dysfunction-in-two-patients-with-bartonella-henselae-bacteremia/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/11/bartonella-henselae-in-children-with-congenital-heart-disease/

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

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/31/shedding-light-on-bartonella/

I could go on and on to infinity.  Bartonella is a REAL PROBLEM.  Time for researchers to wake up from their stupor and do some current meaningful research.

 

Category:

Activism, Bartonella, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment