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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022 Jun 17;119(25):e2202059119. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.

The bacterial genus comprises numerous emerging pathogens that cause a broad spectrum of disease manifestations in humans. The targets and mechanisms of the anti- immune defense are ill-defined and bacterial immune evasion strategies remain elusive. We found that experimentally infected mice resolved infection by mounting antibody responses that neutralized the bacteria, preventing their attachment to erythrocytes and suppressing bacteremia independent of complement or Fc receptors. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022 May 30;13(5):101974. Epub 2022 May 30.

National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 102206, Changping District, Beijing city, China. Electronic address:

Rodents are generally recognized to be the reservoir hosts of a great many zoonotic pathogens. In some areas of China, rodent-borne pathogens, as well as the role of rodents in the natural cycle of these pathogens, are still poorly investigated. To increase our knowledge on the distribution and epidemiology of rodent-borne bacterial pathogens, 81 rodent liver samples were collected in three locations of Guizhou province located in Southwest China, and screened for the presence of Ehrlichia, Coxiella, and Bartonella in them. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 06 1;16(6):e0010446. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular characteristics of Bartonella infections in small rodents in the Shangdang Basin, China. Small rodents were captured using snap traps, and their liver, spleen, and kidney tissues were harvested for Bartonella detection and identification using a combination of real-time PCR of the ssrA gene (296 bp) and conventional PCR and sequencing of the gltA gene (379 bp). Results showed that 55 of 147 small rodents to be positive for Bartonella, with a positivity rate of 37. Read More

ARP Rheumatol 2022 Jan-Mar;1(1):98-99

Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonosis caused by Bartonella henselae, which is usually transmitted to humans through scratches or bites from infected cats. It is primarily a disease of children and adolescents, although it can affect individuals of any age. In approximately 10% of cases, patients can present atypical manifestations that may involve the musculoskeletal system. Read More

Cureus 2022 Apr 23;14(4):e24414. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Infectious Disease, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, USA.

Cats and dogs make up an essential part of the household for families in the United States. Close contact with pets can carry a risk of potential infectious disease transmission. This case series outlines causes of zoonotic pneumonia associated with cats and dogs, with a particular focus on the three cases presented of respiratory infection with and in patients with an underlying malignancy. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 05 26;16(5):e0010399. Epub 2022 May 26.

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

We describe a case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis in an 11-year-old child from Northern Manitoba, Canada. This case demonstrates the neglected endemicity of B. quintana in Northern Canada and highlights the need for improved case finding and elucidation of specific risk factors for B. Read More

Zoonoses Public Health 2022 May 23. Epub 2022 May 23.

Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.

California has the highest proportion of unhoused individuals in the country, and up to 25% of unhoused individuals own pets, providing substantial benefits but unique challenges including access to housing, transportation and unfounded grounds for social stigmatization. Unhoused individuals and pets may also be at risk for diseases due to impaired access to sanitation facilities. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to evaluate differences in perceived benefits, challenges and public perceptions among pet owners of varying housing security and the prevalence of diseases among their pets. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 May 18;15(5). Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

We present a case of a young kidney transplanted man. He was admitted with lymphadenopathy, fluctuating fever and night sweats 2 months after a cat bite. After admission, he developed severe pain around his right hip. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2022 05 17;18(5):e1010489. Epub 2022 May 17.

Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Vertical transmission of Bartonella infection has been reported for several mammalian species including mice and humans. Accordingly, it is commonly held that acquired immunological tolerance contributes critically to the high prevalence of Bartonellae in wild-ranging rodent populations. Here we studied an experimental model of Bartonella infection in mice to assess the impact of maternal and newborn immune defense on vertical transmission and bacterial persistence in the offspring, respectively. Read More

Acta Trop 2022 Aug 13;232:106509. Epub 2022 May 13.

Departamento de Etología, Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address:

More than ever, there is a need to understand how pathogens, vectors and hosts occur temporally and spatially to predict the occurrence of zoonotic outbreaks. Related to this, mites of the Mesostigmata and Trombidiformes orders have the potential to transmit several diseases, yet their information of occurrence, distribution and zoonotic accompanying agents have not been systematically organized. We conducted a systematic review using a combination of words through the Sysrev platform, as well as literature searches in specialised databases to identify global patterns of infections, trends in mite-rodent-pathogen research and existing knowledge gaps. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2022 May 14;18(1):177. Epub 2022 May 14.

Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Pabellón I. Campus Universitario S/N, 27002, Lugo, Spain.

Background: In Europe, Babesia infections in cats are sporadic and only partial knowledge is currently available since the number of described cases including both the clinical presentation and the molecular identification of the Babesia species involved is limited. In the present case report, the clinical signs, the epidemiological data and the molecular results suggest that this is the first reported fatal case of feline babesiosis caused by Babesia canis.

Case Presentation: A six month old female European shorthair cat from north-western Spain died after being hospitalized for two days. Read More

Zoonoses Public Health 2022 May 11. Epub 2022 May 11.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.

Bartonella spp. and haemoplasmas are pathogens of veterinary and medical interest with ectoparasites mainly involved in their transmission. This study aimed at molecular detection of Bartonella spp. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2022 04 30;16(4):712-716. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, Gazi University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.

The hepatosplenic (HS) form of cat scratch disease (CSD) is rarely seen; however, management of the treatment is challenging for clinicians. Monotherapy or combination regimens may be preferred based on severity of cases. Along with that, there are uncertainties as to the combination and duration of antibiotics effective against the microorganisms. Read More

Lancet Microbe 2021 12 10;2(12):e685-e694. Epub 2021 Sep 10.

University Hospital, Goethe-University, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Bartonella bacilliformis is the aetiological agent of Carrión's disease, a biphasic and highly lethal illness formerly restricted to the South American Andes that is now spreading to adjacent areas. Reliable serodiagnostic approaches and vaccines are urgently needed. In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant proteins of B bacilliformis and to establish novel and reliable serodiagnostic tools. Read More

J Med Entomol 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

California Department of Public Health, Vector Borne Disease Section, 2151 Convention Center Way, Suite 226, Ontario, CA 91764, USA.

Bartonella are vector-transmitted, intracellular bacteria that infect a wide variety of blood-feeding arthropods and their vertebrate hosts. In California, more than 13 species of Bartonella have been described from companion animals, livestock, and wildlife, of which four have been associated with human disease. Infections in humans cause a range of symptoms from relatively mild to severe, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Read More

Acta Trop 2022 Aug 1;232:106496. Epub 2022 May 1.

Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Hospital Veterinário, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil. Electronic address:

Bartonelloses are zoonoses widely dispersed throughout the world caused by bacteria of the genus Bartonella. Domestic cats play an important role in the epidemiology of bartonelloses, since these animals are considered natural hosts of B. henselae, B. Read More

Rev Chilena Infectol 2021 12;38(6):805-810

Unidad de infectología, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Chile.

Inflammatory pseudotumors are a rare pathology and scarcely reported in the literature and have been associated with polymicrobial infections. Here, we present the case of a 9 years old boy from Bolivia, who presented with abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting, who was diagnosed with a thoraco-abdominal pseudotumor. The micro-biology and molecular laboratories in tissue allowed the identification of one of the probable etiological agents. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2022 14;9:859104. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.

Bartonellosis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacterium of genus . The disease has a worldwide distribution and cats represent the major reservoir of this disease. Despite its global distribution, very limited previous studies have investigated the occurrence of bartonellosis in cats and their owners in Egypt. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 04 29;12(1):6996. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000, China.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Bartonella infections in small mammals from the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Toward this, small mammals were captured using snap traps in Yushu City and Nangqian County, West China, and the spleen tissue was used for Bartonella culture. The suspected positive colonies were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and by sequencing the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. Read More

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed) 2022 04;40(4):179-182

Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address:

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella sp. in a randomly selected sample from the population of the patients of North Sanitary District of Jaén.

Methods: We used a commercially available immunofluorescent test (Focus-Technology IFA Bartonella quintana and B. Read More

Pathogens 2022 Apr 14;11(4). Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, 15-540 Białystok, Poland.

Ticks, such as and , act as vectors for multiple pathogens posing a threat to both human and animal health. As the process of urbanization is progressing, those arachnids are being more commonly encountered in urban surroundings. In total, 1112 ( = 842) and ( = 270) ticks were collected from several sites, including recreational urban parks, located in Augustów and Białystok, Poland. Read More

Microbiol Spectr 2022 Apr 18:e0059822. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Bacterial adhesion to the host is the most decisive step in infections. Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAA) are important pathogenicity factors of Gram-negative bacteria. The prototypic TAA adhesin A (BadA) from human-pathogenic Bartonella henselae mediates bacterial adherence to endothelial cells (ECs) and extracellular matrix proteins. Read More

China CDC Wkly 2022 Mar;4(12):259-263

State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China; National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Accurate etiological detection is needed to evaluate the risk of zoonotic diseases. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can be used to monitor pathogens in animal species and identify potential zoonotic threats. The current sampling model for zoonotic pathogen monitoring in wild animals requires samples to be transferred from the field to a laboratory for further detection. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2022 May 6;36(3):1106-1112. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.

A 2.5-year-old castrated male cat presented with fever and marked generalized lymphadenopathy of 4-months duration, despite treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate/marbofloxacin. Abnormalities were not detected on complete blood count, serum chemistry, and FIV/FeLV test apart from a borderline, non-regenerative anemia. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2022 Jun 6;67(2):932-942. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.

Introduction: Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are known as the vector of diseases such as leishmaniasis, bartonellosis and viral diseases. The aim of this study is to detect the host feeding pattern of sand flies in the endemic areas for leishmaniasis in Turkey (Antalya, Kayseri) and Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as well as the presence of Leishmania DNA in the specimens.

Methods: One-hundred seventy-six blood-fed sand fly specimens were examined for blood meal analysis. Read More

mSphere 2022 04 5;7(2):e0008122. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.

Bartonella bacilliformis is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that provokes pathological angiogenesis and causes Carrion's disease, a neglected tropical disease restricted to South America. Little is known about how facilitates vasoproliferation resulting in hemangioma in the skin in verruga peruana, the chronic phase of Carrion's disease. Here, we demonstrate that extracellularly secrets a passenger domain of the autotransporter BafA exhibiting proangiogenic activity. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2022 Mar 31;15(1):113. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp. Read More

Neurology 2022 05 29;98(21):896-900. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

From the Clinic of Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth (B.N., N.I., A.P., M.K., J.M., J.S., J.J.); Center for Endocrine Surgery (B.R.), Clinical Center of Serbia; Faculty of Medicine (B.R., J.S., J.J.), University of Belgrade; and Institute of Pharmacology (J.S.), Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Neuroretinitis due to infection is a rare cause of vision loss in children. Two pediatric cases of acute unilateral vision loss accompanied by edema of the optic nerve on fundoscopic examination are presented. Severe causes of vision loss were excluded. Read More

J Zoo Wildl Med 2022 Mar;53(1):50-59

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA,

Protozoal and bacterial vector-borne infections are frequently diagnosed in domestic felids. However, with the exception of and , their occurrence in managed nondomestic felids housed in the United States is largely unknown. Following a case in February 2020 of fulminant cytauxzoonosis in an African lion (), EDTA-whole blood samples were collected opportunistically from February 2020 through June 2020 from 34 adult tigers () and eight adult African lions from the same sanctuary in eastern Tennessee as well as 14 adult tigers from a zoo in southern Oklahoma. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2022 Apr 4;120(2):e93-e97. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús de Madrid, España.

Infectious myositis, whether viral or bacterial, is frequent in pediatric age. It causes muscle pain and weakness, associated with fever and general malaise. One cause is Bartonella henselae, responsible for cat scratch disease, which sometimes causes systemic symptoms. Read More