Archive for the ‘Bartonella’ Category

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

Bartonella, Erythema Nodosum & Atypical Presentations

The cat did it: erythema nodosum and additional atypical presentations of Bartonella henselae infection in immunocompetent hosts.

Authors

Schattner A1,2, Uliel L3, Dubin I2.

BMJ Case Rep. 2018.

PMID

29453213 [PubMed – in process]

 

Abstract

A healthy patient presented with painful skin lesions on the anterior surface of her legs.Erythema nodosum was diagnosed but all the usual causes were ruled out. The finding of bilateral enlarged axillary lymph nodes with necrosis and granulomas led to the diagnosis of Bartonella infection, an unusual cause of erythema nodosum. Imaging also revealed splenomegaly and small para-aortic lymph nodes.Up to one quarter of the patients with cat-scratch disease present atypically, a considerably higher prevalence than previously reported. A comprehensive review of the literature (PubMed, since inception, all languages) revealed a remarkable array of unusual presentations which are summarised and briefly discussed.

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**Comment**

Thankful for this work showing atypical presentations.   Mark my words, we are going to see more and more of this…..

 

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

 

Category:

Bartonella, research

Neglected Vector-borne Zoonoses in Europe

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29426471/

Neglected vector-borne zoonoses in Europe: Into the wild.

Tomassone L1, Berriatua E2, De Sousa R3, Duscher GG4, Mihalca AD5, Silaghi C6, Sprong H7, Zintl A8. Vet Parasitol. 2018.

Abstract

Wild vertebrates are involved in the transmission cycles of numerous pathogens. Additionally, they can affect the abundance of arthropod vectors. Urbanization, landscape and climate changes, and the adaptation of vectors and wildlife to human habitats represent complex and evolving scenarios, which affect the interface of vector, wildlife and human populations, frequently with a consequent increase in zoonotic risk. While considerable attention has focused on these interrelations with regard to certain major vector-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and tick-borne encephalitis virus, information regarding many other zoonotic pathogens is more dispersed. In this review, we discuss the possible role of wildlife in the maintenance and spread of some of these neglected zoonoses in Europe. We present case studies on the role of rodents in the cycles of Bartonella spp., of wild ungulates in the cycle of Babesia spp., and of various wildlife species in the life cycle of Leishmania infantum, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp.

These examples highlight the usefulness of surveillance strategies focused on neglected zoonotic agents in wildlife as a source of valuable information for health professionals, nature managers and (local) decision-makers. These benefits could be further enhanced by increased collaboration between researchers and stakeholders across Europe and a more harmonised and coordinated approach for data collection.

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**Comment**

They are neglected in the U.S. too, but all play a significant role in patient case complexity.

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Bartonella, research, Rickettsia

Anemic Dog Found to Have Bartonella – Resolved with Prolonged Antibiotics

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29393980/

Bartonella henselae infection in a dog with recalcitrant ineffective erythropoiesis.

Randell MG, et al. Vet Clin Pathol. 2018. Feb 2. doi: 10.1111/vcp.12575. [Epub ahead of print]

Authors
Randell MG1, Balakrishnan N2,3, Gunn-Christie R4, Mackin A5, Breitschwerdt EB2,3.

Abstract

Ineffective erythropoiesis was diagnosed in an 8-year-old male castrated Labrador Retriever. Despite treatment with immunosuppressive therapy for suspected immune-mediated erythrocyte maturation arrest, resolution of the nonregenerative anemia was not achieved. Following documentation of Bartonella henselae bacteremia by Bartonella alpha proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) enrichment blood culture, immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued, and the anemia resolved following prolonged antibiotic therapy. Bartonella immunofluorescent antibody testing was negative, whereas B henselae western blot was consistently positive. The contribution of B henselae bacteremia to ineffective erythropoiesis remains unknown; however, the potential role of B henselae in the pathophysiology of bone marrow dyscrasias warrants additional investigation.

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**Comment**

All I could think of when I read this article was, “You lucky dog.”  How many Lyme/MSIDS patients have anemia due to an undiagnosed Bartonella infection?  Hard to say, but I’ll bet there’s a lot out here in Lyme-land.

Notice this lucky dog gets Dr. Breitschwerdt, the Bart Guru, taking care of him and using his special growth medium to detect Bartonella to begin with.  People don’t even get that.  Then, the lucky dog is put on prolonged antibiotic therapy, directed by someone who knows what he’s doing, and will live another day to chase squirrels.

Can I be a dog, please?

Category:

Bartonella, Testing, Treatment