Bartonella

Question 1

General characteristics

Answer 1

GN coccobacillus to bacillus

• obligate aerobes
• fastidious
• phylogenetically similar to Brucella
• biochemically inert
• oxidase and catalase negative

Question 2

Bartonella is ______ dependent, requiring enriched blood medium

Answer 2

Hemin

• cultivated in semisolid nutrient agar, with fresh blood
• require 5-15 days or longer to form visible colonies
• white, dry, and rough in appearance

Question 3

Transmission

Answer 3

Arthropod vectors

Question 4

B. henselae

Answer 4

Cat scratch disease in humans

• infection in cats
• transmission via fleas

Question 5

B. vinsonii

Answer 5

Endocarditis/myocarditis in humnas

- subsp. berkhoffii: canine endocarditis

Question 6

Bartonella multiply and persist in _______

Answer 6

Erythrocytes

• bundle forming pili and surface proteins contribute to erythrocyte adhesion
• nonhemolytic invasion allows evasion of host immune system and potential arthropod transmission
• induce endothelial proliferation
• B. henselae induce infected cells to produce vascular endothelial growth factor

Question 7

Human disease

Answer 7

Cat scratch disease
- localized lymphadenitis
- fever, malaise, anorexia, headaches
- oculoglandular syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis
- transmitted through cat bites or scratches
Endocarditis (B. elizabethae, B. vinsonii)
Bacillary angiomatosis
- vascular proliferation of skin, fever, weight loss, malaise

Question 8

Cat disease

Answer 8

Bacteremia is asymptomatic

• lasts few weeks to few months
• mild fever, lymphadenitis, uveitis, mild neurologic signs
• transmitted thru fleas, common in stray cats in warm humid areas
• causes transient fever of unknown origin (B. henselae)

Question 9

Dog disease

Answer 9

Endocarditis, myocarditis especially in large breeds
- granulomatous lymphadenitis and rhinitis
- endocarditis preceded by intermittent lameness, bone pain or fever
- uncommon in North America and Europe, common in tropical regions
B. vinsonii berkhoffii