Understanding Bartonella: Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment

November 1, 2020

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/understanding-bartonella?

Understanding Bartonella: Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment

Understanding Bartonella: Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment

by Dr. Bill Rawls
Last Updated 10/27/2020

Bartonella bacteria are gram-negative, meaning they have a double cell wall that’s like a protective capsule that prevents the immune system’s white blood cells from ingesting them. They are slow growing, come in different shapes, and are very difficult to isolate in the lab. They can live inside cells and in isolated locations in the body, protected from the immune system and antibiotics.

Inside an average medical textbook, you will find references to three conditions caused by different strains of bartonella: cat scratch fever (Bartonella henselae), trench fever (Bartonella quintana), and Carrion’s disease (Bartonella bacilliformis). But research over the past 20 years has shown that bartonella is quite a bit more complex. Though some people develop acute symptoms associated with the classic bartonella infections, many people with symptoms of chronic illness who are found to harbor bartonella species have no memory of acute illness.

There are actually many species of bartonella that are widespread in all mammal populations, including whales and dolphins. More than a dozen species have been isolated that can infect humans, hence the broader-named category called bartonella-like organisms (BLO).

Bartonella is typically spread by biting insects (fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies, lice, chiggers, biting flies, scabies, mites, and even louse-eating spiders), but it can also be transmitted by contaminated bites (of animals), scratches (cat scratch), and ingestion.

Infection by any bartonella species is called Bartonellosis. Let’s examine some of the strains that impact human health.

Bartonella henselae

The most common bartonella strain (as far as anyone knows) is Bartonella henselae. It is the cause of cat scratch fever.

Classically, a scratch from a cat carrying B. henselae develops into a rash, followed about 3 to 10 days after the scratch by symptoms that include low-grade fever, headache, sore throat, and conjunctivitis. Swollen lymph nodes are typical and take weeks to months to subside. In most cases, symptoms are not generally debilitating and resolve without treatment.

Concept of homeless animals - young Stray cat on the street.

Classic cat scratch fever is common, with more than 20,000 cases reported in the U.S. each year. About a third of domestic cats are carriers, along with their fleas. Of course, cats are commonly bitten by ticks, and B. henselae is readily transmitted along with other tick-borne microbes.

When Bartonellosis with B. henselae is caused by an insect bite (ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, etc.), the symptom complex is less well defined and highly variable. Most cases are not reported, and the actual incidence of B. henselae infection may be 10 to 100 times or even a 1,000 times greater than that reported for classic cat scratch fever.

Beyond cats, dogs and other mammals — including humans — also carry B. henselae. Different studies of human populations around the world have shown that the carrier rate for B. henselae in asymptomatic individuals is anywhere from 10% to 30%.

But in certain circumstances, B. henselae may pose serious risks to your health. Emerging insights, like those reported in the journal Cancer Research, suggest B. henselae may be implicated in the development of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), an aggressive form of breast cancer.

It may be that bartonella facilitates the dispersal of breast tumor cells through the lymphatic system and initiates an acute, cellular inflammatory response, leading to a state of chronic inflammation in patients with IBC. Although more research is needed to determine B. henselae’s contributions to IBC in humans, this preliminary information underscores the importance of understanding how bartonella species may be connected to other health conditions.

Bartonella quintana

Another common species of bartonella, Bartonella quintana is the cause of trench fever. The name comes from the trenches of WWI, where soldiers lived in desperate and debilitating conditions and the spread of Bartonellosis by B. quintana was rampant.

B. quintana, spread by body lice, causes severe fever, headache, muscle aches, leg and back pain, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, and, rarely, heart failure. Today, it’s common in homeless people, again, transmitted by body lice. About 10% to 20% of homeless populations in the U.S. harbor chronic infection with B. quintana. (Estimates suggest that the number of homeless people may be as high as 3.5 million.)

B. quintana can be transmitted directly by the bite of a louse as well as by infected bodies of dead lice scratched into abraded skin. The bacteria becomes tightly interwoven into the feces of the louse, which also is a transmission vector. Louse feces-bound bartonella is infectious for more than a year and can be inhaled or ingested with dust particles. B. quintana has also been found in cats, dogs, monkeys, gerbils, and rats, and it can be transmitted by other insect vectors.

What Bartonella Does to the Body

After entering the body (by whatever means), bartonella infects specialized white blood cells called CD 34+. These blood cells are precursors for cells that line blood vessels and other tissues (endothelial cells).

The microbe enters the cell and creates a cyst around itself (called a vacuole) to gain protection. It also turns off the ability of the cell to self-destruct. Chemical messengers stimulated by bartonella microbes cause more CD 34+ cells to congregate. These messengers simultaneously suppress other key parts of the immune response.

CD 34+ migrate throughout the body and replace damaged endothelial cells. This places bartonella exactly where it wants to be. Once established inside blood vessels, bartonella starts scavenging red blood cells as a nutrient source.

split image. bartonella on left, red blood cells on right

While all of this sounds highly threatening, B. henselae or B. quintana are actually not highly virulent microbes. If the person’s immune system is healthy, the cells of the immune system quickly gain the upper hand, and the microbe is dispatched within a couple of weeks. After a brief low-grade illness, the person is back to full health. Because the illness is rarely debilitating, a doctor and the healthcare system are generally not involved, and a formal diagnosis is never made.

If immune function is not up to par, however, chronic, low-grade infection can occur. It’s insidious The person has mild illness initially but then never gets completely better. The degree of debility is variable and dependent on immune status. It is possible (even common) to have chronic infection without having noticeable symptoms.

Bartonella gains protection from the immune system by invading cells that line blood vessels. Symptoms are mostly related to damage caused to small blood vessels (small vessel disease). Types of symptoms are related to the organs involved. Typical organs that can be affected include:

  • Liver
  • Spleen
  • Bone marrow
  • Eyes
  • Skin
  • Vascular system, including the heart

Stealth Characteristics of Bartonella

With only one known exception (see “The Exception” section, below), bartonella bacteria meet all the characteristics of stealth, low-virulence microbes, opportunistic pathogens with the advantage of persistence to gain a foothold in the body instead of relying on an aggressive attack. The characteristics of stealth microbes are as follows:

  • Widely prevalent in the natural world
  • Ancient host-vector relationship with multiple hosts and vectors
  • Initial infection is generally mild
  • Slow growing
  • Occurs in low concentrations in the body (even in very symptomatic individuals)
  • Associated with chronic infection in immunocompromised hosts
  • Symptoms of chronic infection are very nonspecific and similar to other low-virulence microbes
  • Have the ability to live and thrive inside cells in the body, shielded from the immune system
  • Both difficult to diagnose and difficult to eradicate, low-virulence microbes are very covert

Like other stealth microbes, bartonella is not much of a threat by itself. Virulence is additive, however; coinfection with multiple low-virulence microbes like bartonella and borrelia (the primary bacteria responsible for Lyme disease) can result in significant chronic illness. Bartonella occurs as a coinfection in at least 25% of Lyme disease cases.

Symptoms of Chronic Bartonella Infection

Symptoms of bartonella infection are highly variable, and some people who have it might not experience any signs of illness. The spectrum of symptoms widely overlaps with other low-virulence microbes and may include:

  • Skin rash at the site of initial infection
  • Low-grade fever (100℉ – 102℉)
  • Swollen lymph nodes near the initial infection site are hallmarks of initial infection; lymph nodes can be filled with pus and drain in severe cases.
  • Severe fatigue
  • Muscle pain
  • Body aches
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loose stools, constipation, or impaired general intestinal function
  • Eye infection (conjunctivitis)
  • Liver and spleen enlargement in acute or chronic infection
  • Relapsing low-grade fever
  • Chronic eye problems, including blurred vision, photophobia, and eye irritation
  • Bartonella commonly infects bone marrow with resulting bone pain; the most common location is the shin bone.
  • Pain in the soles of feet upon waking in the morning. This is associated with trauma to blood vessels in the soles of the feet with walking and is a classic bartonella symptom.
  • Ankle and knee pain on one or both sides
  • Anemia can occur from bartonella scavenging nutrients from red blood cells.
  • Small vessel disease, affecting the brain and nervous system
  • Headaches
  • Depression and rage
  • Anxiety
  • Neurological symptoms like poor balance, brain fog, decreased cognition, memory impairment, insomnia, and restlessness
  • Poor stress tolerance
  • Demineralization of teeth and jaw, causing chronic face and neck pain
  • Transient tooth pain
  • Chronic bartonella infections are associated with higher rates of root canals (due to compromise of small vessels supplying the tooth).
  • Small vessel disease can affect the function of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic systems), resulting in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
  • Vascular system issues such as infection of cells lining the heart (endocarditis), leading to chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, and, in some cases, damage to heart valves
  • Respiratory symptoms, including unexplained cough
  • Urogenital problems like irritable bladder, kidney disease, pelvic pain, and infertility
  • Bartonella may be passed during pregnancy and between partners.
  • Severely immunocompromised individuals (mainly AIDS patients) can develop cranberry-like skin lesions from the proliferation of infected blood vessels under the skin.

With such an expansive list of symptoms that intersects with other microbes and health conditions, an average doctor isn’t going to consider bartonella. They would likely chalk it up to aging and offer only prescriptions to control the symptoms, nothing more.

A Word About Other Bartonella Species

Research over the past 20 years has revealed bartonella species other than B. henselaeand B. quintana. New ones are added to the list every year. A partial list includes B. clarridgeiae, B. elizabethae, B. vinsonii, B. berkhoffi, B. grahamii, and B. washoensis.

All but one bartonella species cause similar symptom profiles as the two better-known bartonella species and are somewhat interchangeable. In other words, other species of bartonella can cause cat scratch fever or trench fever. All bartonella species infect mammals via biting insect vectors. Ticks are known to transmit several different species of bartonella.

Bartonella is so prevalent that most people will cross paths with some form of it during a lifetime (but in most cases never know it).

But there is one exception: Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion’s disease. It is a highly virulent microbe that only occurs in the Andes regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

A bite from a sandfly transmits B. bacilliformis, causing a high fever (called Oroya fever). This is accompanied by severe anemia from the destruction of red blood cells, severe enlargement of the spleen and liver, bleeding into lymph nodes, and destruction of blood vessels. Mortality is 40% without treatment.

Bartonella bacilliformis is an exception compared to other species of bartonella, but fortunately, it holds to the rule that higher-virulence microbes tend to be uncommon or rare.

How to Diagnose Bartonella

Doctor explaining diagnosis during a video conference with patient at midnight. Physician giving consultation to sick patient from hospital office during virtual examination, screen, medicine, appointment.

Like Lyme disease and other stealth microbes, bartonella is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Testing is species-specific and generally only looks for the most common species of bartonella. Because concentrations of the organism in the body are so low, it can be hard to find. The following are tests and methods to help gain some more information.

Indirect Fluorescence Assay (IFA)

IFA tests for antibodies (IgG and IgM) to bartonella. IFA is not very sensitive because antibodies levels tend to be low. Fry Laboratories (Scottsdale, Az) offers both IFA and standard PCA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Standard PCR detects bartonella DNA in a blood sample. Because concentrations of the microbe are very low with chronic infection, this test is unreliable. However, Galaxy Diagnostics (based in Research Triangle, NC) performs an amplified version of PCR called ePCR that is more reliable.

The presence of bartonella in blood is amplified with special culture media and then tested with PCR. The test takes 2 to 4 weeks to perform and tests for all known forms of bartonella. Additionally, Armin Labs (Augsburg, Germany) offers several testing methods, including PCR and IFA tests.

IGeneX

This test uses an amplified version of PCR and immunofluorescence testing (FISH), together for improved accuracy of testing for multiple species of bartonella. FISH testing is unique in that it evaluates for bartonella RNA, as opposed to relying on an immune response from the host. The primary drawbacks to testing with IGeneX are high expense and lack of coverage by insurance.

As a general rule of thumb, positive testing can help direct therapy, but a negative test does not rule out the presence of bartonella. The expense of testing must be weighed against money directed at comprehensive therapy. As with other low-virulent microbes, sometimes it’s best just to assume that it is there and develop a comprehensive recovery protocol that addresses it.

Conventional Medical Solutions

As a general rule, two antibiotics at one time are superior to one for bartonella infection, most commonly doxycycline and rifampin for 2 to 4 weeks. Individuals with serious or debilitating symptoms, such as those consistent with endocarditis, should be evaluated by a healthcare provider and should receive antibiotic therapy. Note that some people with chronic bartonella infection do respond to conventional antibiotic therapy, too.

Antibiotic-resistant bartonella is common, and because the microbes are slow growing, occur in low concentrations in the body, and concentrate in areas where antibiotics do not penetrate, nonresponders are common. Many people who do respond relapse later.

Natural Solutions for Bartonella

The best alternative solution to overcoming a bartonella infection is supporting the natural healing potential of the body. That calls for minimizing exposure to the modern-day factors that disrupt immune function and allow low- virulence microbes like bartonella to flourish, including artificially created food products, petrochemicals and other toxins, artificial sources of radiation, and constant daily stress . In fact, avoiding these factors as much as possible is an essential step for controlling the present epidemic of all chronic diseases like Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, fatigue syndromes, and autoimmune diseases.

image split into three. Cryptolepis, black walnut, and japanese knotweed

Natural herbal therapy offers a good alternative for chronic bartonella infection. Herbs reduce inflammation, restore normal immune function, and suppress a wide range of stealth microbes. Here are some top choices to get you started.

green Cryptolepis

Cryptolepis

Traditionally used to treat malaria in Africa, cryptolepis demonstrates systemic antibacterial properties and antiprotozoal properties. The herb is anti-inflammatory and provides antimicrobial activity, and new research in bioRxiv suggests it might defend against B. henselae as well.

Suggested dosage: Cryptolepis is available as a powder, tea, capsule, or tincture, so the dose varies depending on the preparation.

Side effects: It tends to be well tolerated in most people.

Black Walnut with green leaves

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Native to North America, black walnut trees may be found in your own yard. Integrative healthcare professionals have long used black walnut anecdotally to combat intestinal parasites, however, the same research mentioned above indicates it may combat bartonella. In addition to antiparasitic and antibacterial properties, black walnut also demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Suggested dosage: Black walnut usually is found in tinctures and dried powders. The dose will likely depend upon the preparation and the professional expertise of your healthcare provider. Standard doses may range from 250 mg to 500 mg, two to three times daily.

Side effects: Because there is some potential for toxicity with black walnut, it is best used in conjunction with other herbs and for a shorter duration, like a couple of weeks to a couple of months at a time.

Japanese Knotweed with white flower blooms

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)

Japanese knotweed with resveratrol has been used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine, and it’s a potent antioxidant with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Japanese Knotweed may eradicate various phases of bartonella bacteria, according to the bioRxiv study.

Suggested dosage: 200-800 mg Japanese knotweed (standardized to 50% trans-resveratrol), two to three times daily

Side effects: They’re rare, with low potential for toxicity. Caution is advised if you’re also taking anticoagulants, because resveratrol has blood-thinning properties. Avoid it during pregnancy.

Bartonella Reactions to Treatment

Bartonella has a very low potential to cause Herxheimer reactions. The outer coat from dead bacteria is much less reactive than most other bacteria involved with Lyme disease. The bacteria does not form biofilms, but it can form vacuoles that are similar in the liver. Generally, vacuoles are broken down by the body when healing occurs.

The Bottom Line

Chronic bartonella infections may require a combination of conventional and natural therapies. Therefore, it’s important to have a knowledgeable healthcare provider involved in your care to determine an appropriate treatment strategy for you. Treatments that include natural protocols to suppress microbes along and immune enhancement are the building blocks of a successful recovery.

Finally, remember to optimize immune health by prioritizing sleep, eliminating refined carbohydrates and processed foods from your diet, incorporating detoxification strategies to assist with toxin removal, and adding exercise as tolerated. Be patient, and you’ll begin to see your health gradually get better.

Dr. Rawls is a physician who overcame Lyme disease through natural herbal therapy. You can learn more about Lyme disease in Dr. Rawls’ new best selling book, Unlocking Lyme.
You can also learn about Dr. Rawls’ personal journey in overcoming Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in his popular blog post, My Chronic Lyme Journey.

Learn About Dr. Rawls’ Herbal Protocol »
REFERENCES
1. Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonellosis: one health perspective for an emerging infectious disease. ILAR J. 2014;55(1):46-58. doi: 10.1093/ilar/ilu015
2. Eschow, Rao, Mordechai, Concurrent Infection of the Central Nervous System by Borrelia burgdorferi and Bartonella henselae, Evidence for a Novel Tick-borne Disease Complex, Arch Neurol, 2001, 58 (9), p. 1357-1363 – http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=780359
3. Walter Berghoff, Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-infections: Differential Diagnosis, Open Neurol J, 2012, 6: p. 158-178 – http://www.cdc.gov/bartonella/
4. Forsgren, Scott, Interview with B. Robert Mozeyeni, MD: Unraveling the Mystery of Bartonellosis, Townsend Letter, July 2015 – http://www.townsendletter.com/July2015/bartonellosis0715.html
5. Mascarelli, Maggi, Hopkins, Mozayeni, Trull, Bradley, Hogarty, and Breitschwerdt, Bartonella henselae infection in a family experiencing neurological and neurocognitive abnormalities after woodlouse spider bites, Parasites & Vectors, 2013, 6:98
6. Edward Bealmear Breitswerdt, DMV, Bartonellosis: One Health Perspective for an Emerging Infectious Disease, ILAR Journal, 2014, 55(1), p. 46-58 – http://ilarjournal.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/1/46.full
7. Buhner S H, Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections, Healing Arts Press, Copyright 20138. Jawetz, Melnick, Adelberg, Medical Microbiology, 24th edition, Lange/McGraw-Hill, 20079. Beers, Berkhoff, ed, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th edition, Merck & Co, 1999
8. SV Fernandez, L Aburto, R Maggi, EB Breitschwerdt and M Cristofanilli
Cancer Res December 15 2012 (72) (24 Supplement) P3-10-03; doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.SABCS12-P3-10-03
9. Xiao Ma, Jacob Leone, Sunjya Schweig, Ying Zhang. bioRxiv 2020.08.19.256768; doi: 10.1101/2020.08.19.256768
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**Comment**
A few things:
  1. Bartonella has caused other psychological issues besides rage and anxiety:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/21/bartonella-sudden-onset-adolescent-schizophrenia-a-case-study/
  2. Immunocompetent people can have Bartonella:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/12/bartonella-american-academy-of-pediatrics/
  3. For far too long we’ve been told only people with severely compromised immune systems get Bartonella and that a healthy immune system will wipe it out:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/
  4. Personally, I’ve used every single herb listed within this article.  I have found the combination of rifampin and clarithromycin to be THE most effective treatment for Bartonella.  After years of treatment both my husband and I have been able to maintain with Berberine:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/05/good-news-for-bartonella-patients-identification-of-fda-approved-drugs-with-higher-activity-than-current-front-line-drugs/, https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/16/benefits-of-berberine-against-chronic-disease/, https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/05/study-shows-berberine-induces-cell-death-in-leukemia/
  5. Some are saying Disulfiram may have action also on Bartonella.  It also reduces inflammation:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/10/01/study-shows-dsm-works-for-lyme-reduces-inflammatory-markers-antibody-titers/

Category:

Bartonella, Treatment

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Bartonella Neuroretinitis From a Ferret and Guinea Pig

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33083230/

Not cat-scratch disease: Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis associated with non-feline pet mammals

Jorge Orellana-Rios 1 2, Juan I Verdaguer-Diaz 1, Gabriela Opazo 2, Belinda C S Leong 3, Claudio Zett 4, R Theodore Smith 5, K Bailey Freund 6 7
Affiliations expand

Free PMC article

Abstract

To describe the ocurrence of Bartonella-associated neuroretinitis secondary to non-feline pet exposure, we retrospectively reviewed medical records and imaging from patients with a clinical and serologic diagnosis of Bartonella henselae (BH). Retinal imaging included color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA). Four eyes of two patients with cat-scratch disease were included in this study, with a mean age of 35 years. The mean follow-up was 13 months, after presentation of infectious neuroretinitis. Both patients suffered from bilateral neuroretinitis after direct contact with family pets (ferret and guinea pig).

All patients were treated with a long-term systemic antimicrobial therapy.

Visual acuity in all improved to 20/30 or better at six months. In conclusion, humans may develop cat-scratch disease when they are exposed to Bartonella henselae (BH) in the saliva of infected cats or BH-containing flea feces reaching the systemic circulation through scratches or mucous membranes. As the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) may reside on non-feline mammals, Bartonella-associated neuroretinitis may result from contact with other furred family pets.

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For more on neuroretinitis:  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/2020/07/12/bartonella-neuroretinitis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/08/case-series-bartonella-ocular-manifestations/

For more on Bartonella:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/bartonella-treatment/

Excerpt:

Fifteen species of gram-negative aerobic Bartonella are known to infect humans; however Dr. Ricardo Maggi’s statement is quite telling, “This case reinforces the hypothesis that any Bartonella species can cause human infection.”  

Category:

Bartonella, Eye Issues, research

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Bartonella & Brucella: Cousins in the Bacteria Kingdom

https://www.galaxydx.com/what-is-brucella-and-bartonella/

written on 

Bartonella and Brucella: Cousins in the Bacteria Kingdom

Bartonella and Brucella species are cousins in the taxonomy that describes the relationships between all life, and developed out of a common ancestor. The extent of similar DNA sequences in their genomes suggests their division occurred relatively recently. They are both intracellular pathogens (live inside certain kinds of cells in their hosts) that manipulate the host cell and immune response in similar ways. Consequently, they both have a wide variety of possible presentations, from mild to severe illness to chronic infections that may exist with or without symptoms.

These overlapping characteristics, along with their similar-sounding names, often make it difficult to keep them separate when patients and providers are researching zoonotic pathogens.

Zoonotic Pathogens

Both bacteria are considered zoonotic, or transmissible between animals and people. Although there are preferred host species that they likely evolved with, Bartonella and Brucella species can be found in a variety of animals. Only one species out of both genera seems to prefer humans, Bartonella bacilliformis, and even that preference is an assumption because an animal reservoir has not been determined.

This ability to survive in hosts that are not preferred means that these bacteria are able maintain their populations in animals (known as a “reservoir”) and cause illness in people when transmission occurs. A major distinction between these relatives is that Bartonella species typically require a vector to gain access to a new host, whereas Brucella species do not.

Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, is primarily associated with cats. Although there is case report evidence of direct transmission from cat bites, current research suggests that transmission is more likely where fleas and ticks are prevalent. Viable bacteria can be found in flea feces for up to 8 days following excretion.

Brucella canis is primarily associated with dogs. These bacteria can be transmitted to humans through direct mucosal contact with infected bodily fluids. The highest concentration of viable bacteria is found in vaginal discharge, semen, and placenta, but studies show that urine, feces, saliva, and blood are all potentially infective as well. Brucella canis, along with other Brucella species, can also become airborne and infect people via inhalation of live bacteria.

Scientific History

Both bacteria genera have been rediscovered several times in history, identified by their symptoms. Between the early 1900s and the 1980s, scientists gradually realized that the same bacterial families were causing various diseases. It wasn’t until 2006 that scientists finally settled on the division of species in Brucella, and new species of Bartonella are still being identified today.

Find out more about the history of human Bartonella identification.

The disease caused by infection with Brucella species is called brucellosis and infection with Bartonella species is called bartonellosis. Both species can cause cyclic fever, arthritis and neurological symptoms as well as endocarditis (swelling around the heart).

Surveys of fever around the world turn up Brucella along with the other usual suspects, including Bartonella. Even when the expectation is that most fever comes from a similar outbreak of disease such as Dengue virus, these additional pathogens are found.

Brucellosis and bartonellosis are both occupational risks for animal care workers. Before milk pasteurization was common, brucellosis was a household risk from milk products. In the United States, brucellosis is the most common infection acquired by laboratory workers. In China, there have been recent large infections among animal researchers, as well as a large community exposure when a production facility without adequate sanitary procedures spewed the bacteria into the air.

Source: Shutterstock

The fact that Brucella can be acquired by breathing it in makes it more of a target as a bioweapon than Bartonella. Consequently, there has been more funding available for a vaccine.

Conclusion

Comparing these pathogens can help identify genetic differences that lead to significant differences in the host response. For example, Bartonella shares a change to its flagella (whip tail) with H. pylori (a pathogen discovered in 1982 that causes certain gastric diseases) but not with Brucella. This change helps it evade identification by the host immune system. By studying these differences, it is possible both to learn more about how these species function and also to identify potential diagnostics or treatments.

Because of its impact on agriculture and agricultural products and its potential as a bioweapon, Brucella has received some research funding that isn’t available to Bartonella researchers. Nonetheless, Bartonella researchers can benefit from Brucella research findings.

Consequently, scientific developments around Brucella are important to anyone with an interest in Bartonella.

References

Ben-Tekaya, H. et al. (2013). Bartonella and Brucella – Weapons and strategies for stealth attack. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 3(8), a010231. 10.1101/cshperspect.a010231 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721268/

Saenz, H. L. et al. (2007). Genomic analysis of Bartonella identifies type IV secretion systems as host adaptability factors. Nature Genetics, 39(12), 1469-1476. 10.1038/ng.2007.38 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18037886/

Ali, M. A. et al. (2020). Etiologic agents of fever of unknown origin among patients attending Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar. Journal of Community Health, 45(5), 1073-1080. 10.1007/s10900-020-00832 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32399732

Cyranoski, D. (2019, 17 December). Chinese institutes investigate pathogen outbreaks in lab workers. Nature. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03863-z

Yeung, J., & Cheung, E. (2020, September 17). Bacterial outbreak infects thousands after factory leak in China. CNN.com. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/17/asia/china-brucellosis-outbreak-intl-hnk/index.html

Moreno, E. (2020). The one hundred year journey of the genus Brucella (Mayer and Shaw 1920) [online ahead of print]. FEMS Microbiology Review, fuaa045. 10.1093/femsre/fuaa045 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33016322/

Kazmierczak, J. (2012). Public health implications of Brucella canis infections in humans.Available at: http://www.nasphv.org/Documents/BrucellaCanisInHumans.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Brucellosis. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/clinicians/brucella-species.html

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/06/review-of-psi-joint-infections-in-pediatrics-all-with-negative-blood-cultures-bartonella-brucella-among-others/  An retrospective review of a specific type of joint infections in the pediatric population that showed Brucella and Bartonella.  I also show in the comment section that transmission occurs through animal contact (birth) or animal products, inhalation of infected particles, STD, breastfeeding, bone marrow transplants, blood products, and yes, ticks.  Pathogens are found in macrophages which are transported to lymph nodes, then spread throughout the body.  Treatment consists of doxycycline, rifampicin, & gentamicin.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33016322/  The One Hundred Year Journey of the Genus Brucella

Outbreak in China:  https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-10-24-thousands-infected-by-bacterial-outbreak-in-china

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Is That Mask Giving You Lung Cancer? It’s Criminal To Force Children To Wear Masks All Day

October 31, 2020

https://healthimpactnews.com/2020/is-that-mask-giving-you-lung-cancer-its-criminal-to-force-children-to-wear-masks-all-day/

Is that Mask Giving You Lung Cancer? It’s Criminal to Force Children to Wear Masks all Day

by Guy Crittenden
Originally posted on Facebook

I happen to know a thing or two about masks and safety.

Why? Because for 25 years I was the editor of an award-winning trade magazine called HazMat Management that covered such topics as pollution prevention and compliance with health & safety laws.

We routinely published articles on masks, gloves, respirators and other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Now let me tell you a few things about that mask you’re wearing.

And please note that what I’m about to share was also stated in the most recent edition of Del Bigtree’s program The Highwire when two OSHA mask experts spoke to the fact that the kinds of masks people are wearing were never (never!) designed to be worn for long periods and doing so is very harmful.

The blue typical mask depicted in the photograph contain Teflon and other chemicals.

A Facebook friend reminds us:

1. Masks are “sterilized” with Ethylene Oxide — a known carcinogen. Many teachers in various school boards have been experiencing significant symptoms as a direct result of the effects of this chemical.

2. The masks contain (not sprayed with) PTFE which makes up Teflon along with other chemicals. I found and have posted the US patent to allow manufacturers to use PTFE as a filter in commercial masks… “breathing these for extended periods can lead to lung cancer.”

Don’t agree? Argue with the experts at OSHA, which is the main US agency, i.e., its Occupational Health & Safety Agency.

These masks are meant to be worn only for short periods, like say if you’re sanding a table for an hour and don’t want to inhale sawdust.

They don’t do anything whatsoever to stop the spread of any virus, and the emerging science of virology now understands that viruses aren’t even passed person to person.

I know that sounds incredible, but it’s the case that the virus is in the air, you breath it in, there’s no way to prevent that short of living in an oxygen tent, and if you have a strong immune system you’ll be fine, and if you have a weak immune system you may have to deal with the effects of your immune system working to restore balance within your metabolism.

So let’s say you don’t wear the blue packaged masks, and instead wear a homemade cloth mask — the kind people wear over and over and hang on their rearview mirror and so on.

Those masks are completely useless against a virus, and are also very dangerous. OSHA would never condone a person wearing a mask of this kind for anything more than the shortest time.

Re-breathing your own viral debris is dangerous to health, and the oxygen deprivation children suffer wearing such masks all day will certainly cause brain damage.

I’m not making this up. Again, you might say, well, Guy, you’re not a doctor.

True, but I did edit that magazine for 25 years. That’s a long time and many articles on masks and PPE. I’ve attended numerous OH&S conferences and listened to experts discussing these matters.

You may hear people saying that surgeons and nurses wear masks like this all day.

Um, no. No they don’t.

They’re trained in the proper use of masks, which is to wear them in the OR, then dispose of the mask when they leave that room.

Are you aware that operating rooms are actually supplied extra oxygen, to compensate for the reduction in oxygen flow from mask wearing?

It’s criminal to force children to wear masks all day

To my mind, it’s criminal (not hyperbole) to force children to wear masks all day. Setting aside the very real psychological effects, we’re going to have a generation of brain damaged children.

Ever heard the expression, “Not enough oxygen at birth?” That’s a joke at the expense of a mentally challenged person, but that’s literally what we’re doing.

And we’re told it’s to “keep us safe”! We’re told this by doctors who actually don’t know about PPE and laypeople who have no clue.

So, you can choose to believe me or not, but I was the editor for a quarter century of a magazine that had a strong occupational health and safety mandate, and I can tell you that the mask wearing currently mandated by governments and private businesses offers no health benefit whatsoever, in no way protects you or anyone else from any virus, and actually does you damage beyond wearing it for a few minutes.

Got that? Good. Now please share this message and get the conversation going with parents, who must end this masking of children immediately.

This is a very serious matter. And related to that, let me just state this doesn’t end for me when the lockdown ends or the masking ends.

No, this ends for me when every politician and bureaucrat who inflicted this travesty, this crime against humanity, on the population of Canada (and other affected countries) is in the dock, and faces their misdeeds in a court of law.

And as for those of you who have put masks on young children, I will have a long memory on that score. A very long memory.

END NOTE: The CDC and WHO have acknowledged that asymptomatic people do not spread the virus, so the case for masks for such people is moot in the first place.

_____________________

**Comment**

Even the CDC states that a study shows the vast majority of COVID infected “always” or “often” wore masks.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/13/best-video-on-masks-yet-new-health-problems-emerging-from-continuous-mask-wearing-but-attempted-murder-charges-sought-for-those-who-refuse-them/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/17/ppe-developer-on-n95-masks-70-of-what-you-breathe-is-not-filtered/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/25/and-those-face-shields-they-dont-work-either/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/23/covid-19-important-potential-side-effects-of-wearing-face-masks-that-we-should-bear-in-mind/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/20/coronavirus-cases-hospitalizations-soar-in-hawaii-since-indoor-and-outdoor-mask-mandates/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/10/08/medical-doctor-warns-that-bacterial-pneumonias-are-on-the-rise-from-mask-wearing/

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Tips & Resources for Living in the Present During Challenging Times

https://globallymealliance.org/living-in-the-present-while-worrying-about-the-future/

MyLymeLife_2-38

by Jennifer Crystal

TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR LIVING IN THE PRESENT DURING CHALLENGING TIMES.

As schools resume and cooler weather rolls in, the country is bracing for a possible second wave of COVID-19. The U.S. death toll recently surpassed 200,000, and the last two weeks have seen an increase of cases in many areas. With concerns about what fall and winter will bring, especially as we move into flu season, it can be hard to stay grounded in the present.

Lyme patients know this conundrum all too well. Late-stage tick-borne illnesses end to follow a relapsing pattern: patients have good days and bad days, sometimes good months and bad months. When we’re feeling well, we have a hard time trusting and enjoying that health, because we know the other shoe could drop at any moment. We, too, are always bracing for another wave.

Not only is it hard to stay present when you’re worried about the future, but it can be difficult to enjoy the present when it itself is difficult. The pandemic has people at their wit’s end trying to negotiate working from home with homeschooling, isolating from loved ones, and worrying about illness and finances. In acute phases of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses, patients also feel at their wit’s end as they deal with crushing fatigue, joint aches, migraines, and neurological symptoms. In both cases, the suffering can be so intense that people wish they could escape to a better time in the past or future.

While escapism has its merits, it’s important that we accept our current situation(s) and find ways to live presently. Why? Because no matter how bleak the present is, it’s all we are guaranteed. Whether we’re healthy or ill, living in a pandemic or not, none of us know what tomorrow will bring. Therefore, we can’t let the present pass us by.

What I’ve learned from living with tick-borne illnesses for over 20 years, from battling long-haul COVID-19, and from sometimes wanting to escape from both, is this: the best way to stay present is to prepare for the future. Our anxieties are valid and have their place. Acknowledging them can help us prepare for the worst, and that can then allow us to live more fully in the present.

What does preparation look like in practice? During COVID-19, we can wear face masks, following social distancing protocols, wash our hands, and create contingency plans for school and work. While these steps don’t guarantee we won’t get COVID-19, they do lower our risk. Contingency plans give us safety nets.

During periods of remission from tick-borne illness, we can stay on maintenance medication or supplements, continue with adjunct therapies, exercise, eat well, follow good sleep hygiene, and try to keep stress levels down. If we’re in remission or even if we have recovered completely, we can continue to Be Tick AWARE™, taking precautions like wearing repellent, doing tick checks, and staying on cleared paths so as not to get re-infected. We can make sure we have a good support system—doctors, caregivers, resources. As with COVID-19 precautions, these steps won’t make us immune to another tick bite or relapse, but they do lower the risk.

Once we’re prepared for the future, we can live more freely in the present. Even in trying times, there are ways to enjoy ourselves, and ways to reduce stress. In my post “What Lyme Patients Can Teach Us About the New Normal”, I outline some ideas for managing school and work this fall. In my post “Adding Joy and Pleasure to Life, No Matter When”, I talk about enjoying small moments and activities while we wait for health, for bigger moments and activities to be possible, for better days. Even in a pandemic, families can create fun rituals like weekly movie or game nights. Even in the throes of illness, Lyme patients can enjoy a friend’s visit, laugh over just five minutes of a silly movie, or give themselves an at-home spa treatment.

And while we enjoy the present, there’s certainly no danger in hoping for a brighter future, even visualizing it. Sometimes just the idea of hope is enough.

One difference between battling Lyme and living through a pandemic is that we are all experiencing the latter together. We have similar fears. We have similar hopes. And we can find ways to enjoy the present, together. As I’ve said before, there is comfort in that solidarity.

Related Posts:

Corona With a Twist of Lyme: Part 4
What Lyme Patients Can Teach Us About the New Normal
Adding Joy and Pleasure to Life, No Matter When
The Idea of Hope

jennifer crystal_2

Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.

Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Her memoir about her medical journey is forthcoming. Contact her at lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com.

________________________

**Comment**

While I’m all about preparing for the future and living in the present, there are numerous inaccuracies in this article that require addressing:

To help alleviate the fear-mongering that is pervasive, the best most productive thing you can do is bolster your immune system. This action will help you no matter what comes down the pike and will give you peace of mind. 

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/10/13/bartonella-how-to-protect-yourself-from-this-stealthy-intruder/  While this article is about Bartonella, the steps to protect yourself from one invader is true for another.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/04/the-importance-of-gut-health-to-healing-from-chronic-illnesses-podcast-dr-jill-carnahan/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/08/wahls-protocol-impact-of-diet-nutrition-in-ms-other-neurological-diseases/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/13/nutritional-supplements-for-covid-19-prophylaxis-and-symptom-de-escalation/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/15/the-functional-medicine-approach-to-covid-19-virus-specific-nutraceutical-botanical-agents/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/14/potential-interventions-for-novel-coronavirus-in-china-a-systematic-review/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/09/international-panel-of-medical-experts-urges-u-s-government-to-stop-ignoring-intravenous-vitamin-c-as-a-promising-option-to-treat-covid-19/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/14/nebulized-peroxide-covid/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/02/successful-covid-19-critical-care-stonewalled-by-cdc/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/26/math-protocol-shows-profound-impact-on-survival-from-covid-19/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/24/studies-show-proper-levels-of-vitamin-d-slashes-risk-of-covid-as-does-gargling-with-iodine-vaccine-not-needed/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/08/finally-confirmed-vitamin-d-nearly-abolishes-icu-risk-in-covid-19/

As you can see, there is much you can do to make yourself a tough target.  Learn all you can about your own body and potential things you can do to bolster your immune system.  Discuss these options with your doctor and come up with a plan.  This will be a much more effective, long-lasting plan than plopping a mask on.

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Activism, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Lyme, Supplements, Treatment, Viruses

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