[Bartonella henselae, an ubiquitous agent of proteiform zoonotic disease]

Med Mal Infect. 2010 Jun;40(6):319-30. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2009.11.004. Epub 2009 Dec 29.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of cat scratch disease, a human infection usually characterized by persistent regional lymphadenopathy. It is transmitted to humans by cat scratches or bites. Cats are the major reservoir for this bacterium thus B. henselae has a worldwide distribution. The bacterial pathogenicity may bay emphasized by the immune status of the infected host. Angiomatosis or hepatic peliosis are the most frequent clinical manifestations in immunocompromised patients. B. henselae is also responsible for endocarditis in patients with valvular diseases, and may induce various clinical presentations such as: bacteriemia, retinitis, musculoskeletal disorders, hepatic or splenic diseases, encephalitis, or myocarditis. Several diagnostic tools are available; they may be combined and adapted to every clinical setting. B. henselae is a fastidious bacterium; its diagnosis is mainly made by PCR and blood tests. No treatment is required for the benign form of cat scratch disease. For more severe clinical presentations, the treatment must be adapted to every clinical presentation.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Angiomatosis, Bacillary / diagnosis
  • Angiomatosis, Bacillary / epidemiology
  • Angiomatosis, Bacillary / microbiology*
  • Angiomatosis, Bacillary / transmission
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Bartonella henselae / classification
  • Bartonella henselae / genetics
  • Bartonella henselae / isolation & purification
  • Bartonella henselae / pathogenicity*
  • Bartonella henselae / physiology
  • Cat Diseases / microbiology
  • Cat Diseases / transmission
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnosis
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / epidemiology
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / microbiology*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / transmission
  • Cats / microbiology
  • Disease Reservoirs / microbiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / etiology
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / microbiology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / etiology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / microbiology
  • Peliosis Hepatis / etiology
  • Peliosis Hepatis / microbiology
  • Retinitis / etiology
  • Retinitis / microbiology
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents