Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
[Cat-scratch disease and other infections caused by Bartonella species]
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1996 Jan 20;140(3):144-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96187622 Schellekens JF; Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Laboratorium voor; Bacteriologie en Antimicrobiele Middelen, Bilthoven.
Abstract:
Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat-scratch disease, was identified recently by DNA amplification techniques. Several other Bartonellae (most of which were called Rochalimaea before) cause disease in humans: B. bacilliformis (Carrion's disease), B. elizabethae (endocarditis) and B. quintana (bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis, chronic bacteraemia and endocarditis, trench fever). B. henselae is transmitted to humans by scratch or bite of a bacteraemic, but asymptomatic, cat, which event may be followed by regional lymphadenitis (classical cat-scratch disease), bacillary angiomatosis or peliosis of liver and spleen (in immune compromised, e.g. HIV-infected individuals) or chronic bacteraemia and endocarditis (in elderly individuals). The incidence in the Netherlands of cat-scratch disease is > 2/100,000/year. If a Bartonella infection is suspected, specific immuno-assays and polymerase chain reaction assay may be applied for diagnosis. Culture of the organism is difficult. Macrolides and tetracyclines have been shown to be effective in treatment of disseminated infections. The natural (self-limiting) course of regional lymphadenitis however is not affected by antibiotic treatment.
Keywords: Aged Angiomatosis, Bacillary/MICROBIOLOGY Animal Bartonella henselae/*ISOLATION & PURIF Bartonella Infections/DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*MICROBIOLOGY Cat-Scratch Disease/DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*MICROBIOLOGY Cats/MICROBIOLOGY English Abstract Human Trench Fever/MICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL 960830
M9680754
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